Clinical Research Office. A partnership between Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Sheffield

Sleep and Ventilation

Sheffield Thoracic Assisted Respiration Service (STARS)

STARS is a regional specialist unit providing diagnostic and management services for patients with Sleep and Ventilation problems throughout South Yorkshire.

The unit is based at the Northern General Hospital but works closely with the Neurology Sleep Service at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital to provide a comprehensive and rapid diagnostic pathway for all disorders related to sleep. Full and Respiratory Polysomnography, overnight oximetry screening, transcutaneous capnography, actigraphy and vigilance/wakefulness testing (OSLER and MLST/MWT) are available.

The service has extensive expertise in managing Sleep Disordered Breathing, including Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Central Apnoea, Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome, Hypercapnic respiratory failure due to chronic lung disease and Cheyne-Stokes Respiration due to Heart Failure. In addition, patients with neurological sleep disturbance such as Restless legs syndrome, Parasomnia, Sleep Phase delay and Chronic Insomnia are assessed in an integrated, multi-disciplinary manner.

For those patients with very severe breathing and ventilatory problems, a dedicated Respiratory Support Unit is available to provide non-invasive ventilation in the circumstance of acute respiratory acidosis and ventilatory weaning. This unit is staffed by a highly experienced multi-disciplinary team and provides some of the best treatment outcomes in the UK.