Appointments should be made with a formal referral by your General Practitioner (GP) or another Specialist you may have seen. This is especially important if you are using your insurance policy as some insurers will not pay for appointments if the patient has made their own referral. You can contact the clinic to arrange an appointment when this has been agreed.
The first consultation is usually 30 minutes for sleep and respiratory appointments. Length of follow-up appointments can be varied to allow time depending on the clinical problem.
You may be asked to complete a questionnaire about your sleep disorder before the consultation.
A detailed history is usually taken, followed by examination as necessary. In some cases it may be necessary to undergo an X-ray the same day and/or some form of pulmonary function testing. If required you will be able to undergo blood tests or an electrical heart tracing (ECG) at the Dunedin Hospital laboratory.
Follow up appointments can be arranged if required.