Birmingham Expands Sleep Clinics With More Overnight Monitoring Slots

The Birmingham Sleep Assessment Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital recorded 1,240 overnight sleep studies in the first half of 2026, up from 950 during the same period last year.

City doctors link the increase to greater awareness of how untreated sleep apnoea affects blood pressure and daytime focus, with referrals climbing after NHS campaigns in the West Midlands highlighted the issue in spring.

Two main sites handle most local cases. The unit sits on Mindelsohn Way in Edgbaston and runs weekday and weekend slots using full polysomnography equipment. The RestWell Clinic on Broad Street in the city centre supplies take-home devices that track oxygen levels and breathing patterns without an overnight stay.

Clinic Capacity and Costs

NHS figures for Birmingham show 4,800 residents waited for a sleep study in 2025, with average waits now at nine weeks for hospital tests. Private options at RestWell start at £480 for a two-night home kit that includes a follow-up consultation, while hospital referrals remain free when ordered by a GP.

Staff at both locations use the same scoring system for apnoea events per hour, allowing direct comparison of results between sites. The Edgbaston unit also runs a monthly education session on Colmore Row for people newly referred, covering mask fitting and CPAP machine use.

Booking and Preparation

Anyone experiencing loud snoring or excessive tiredness can ask their GP for a referral to either facility. Patients receive a checklist beforehand that covers caffeine cut-off times and medication notes to ensure accurate readings.

Those who complete a study receive a report within 10 days and, when needed, a fast-track appointment at the same clinic to discuss treatment plans tailored to Birmingham work schedules.