Criteria for referral to public hospital service

• Symptomatic patients with a high probability for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea based on Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS) and a high probability for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea based on a STOP-Bang or OSA50 score
• Patients with new, or worsening, sleep issues unresponsive to current medical management that require further advice on sleep management
• Driving assessments
• Requests for sleep studies for patients that are ineligible for, or unable to access, a General Practitioner (GP) requested sleep study.

Information to be included in the referral

Information that must be provided

• Description of onset, nature, progression, recurrence and duration of symptoms (somnolence, snoring, witnessed apnoea, restless sleep, unrefreshing sleep, tiredness)
• How these symptoms are impacting on activities of daily living including impact on work, study, school or carer role and level of sleep disturbance
• Occupation
• Completed Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS)
• Completed STOP-Bang score or OSA50 score
• Body mass index (BMI)
• Level of alcohol intake
• Smoking history (cigarettes and all forms of tobacco, nicotine, vaping and cannabis)
• Current and complete medication history (including non-prescription medicines, herbs and supplements)
• Past medical history and comorbidities.

Provide if available

• If confirmed obstructive sleep apnoea:
  • full report of most recent sleep investigation
  • details of previous medical management (mandibular advancement splint, continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) therapy) and outcome of treatment(s).

Additional comments

The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.

This statewide referral criteria must be used for referrals to public sleep specialist services offered by Alfred Health, Austin Health, Eastern Health, Monash Health, St Vincent’s Health, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Western Health.

A sleep study is not required prior to referral. Patients may be offered a sleep study prior to review by a sleep physician.

There are also ENT statewide referral criteria for Obstructive sleep apnoea

Where appropriate and available the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.

Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for

Patients who have purchased their CPAP machine from an external supplier experiencing technical problems should return to their supplier for advice.