Sleep Apnoea – What is it and who it affects

Sleep Apnoea is a condition marked by abnormal breathing during sleep. People with Sleep Apnoea have multiple extended pauses in breath when they sleep, essentially “holding their breath” while asleep. These temporary breathing lapses cause lower-quality sleep and affect the body’s supply of oxygen, leading to serious long term health consequences. 

The Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust estimate that up to 4% of the population in the Irish Republic have a sleep disorder of varying degrees. 
If left untreated obstructive sleep apnoea can affect quality of life and can have serious health consequences including.  

• High Blood pressure  
• Cardiovascular disease and heart attack 
• Stroke   

Here’s how it works 

When you join the Sleep Apnoea Screening Programme, the Care-Connect team will support and guide you to complete your sleep study at home. To complete the study, you will receive a WatchPAT® device. The WatchPAT® is worn like a watch on your wrist with a finger probe and a small sensor you stick to your chest. The Care-Connect team will help you to set up the device and you’ll only have to wear the WatchPAT® for one night. It will detect subtle changes in normal sleeping patterns which could indicate that you may have sleep apnoea.  Once complete, Care-Connect’s team/consultant will review your nighttime data and will advise you of the results. We will let you and your GP know what the next best steps are, should you require treatment.   

Who provides the programme? 

The Sleep Apnoea Screening Programme is managed by Care-Connect, a healthcare provider partnership between Irish Life Health and Centric Health. Care-Connect supports ILH members to coordinate and optimise their healthcare journey through direct clinical support alongside innovative digital technologies. 

Who can join this programme? 

To take part in the Sleep Apnoea Screening Programme: 
1 You must be aged over 18 or over and have an Irish Life Health hospital plan. 
2 You must be currently awaiting a diagnostic sleep study for Sleep Apnoea  
3. You must discuss with your GP that you wish to avail of this service and request a referral letter to the programme. This is to ensure that your GP is happy to review your results following the sleep study and initiate treatment if required. 
 
If you meet these criteria, you can apply to join the Sleep Apnoea Screening Programme by registering your interest at: 
www.care-connect.ie 
or call 01 223 4399. 
 
This benefit is available to Irish Life Health members aged 18+ on all hospital plans. 
This benefit is provided by Care-Connect and will be made available wherever Care-Connect can provide the service and where the requirements can be met on hardware and connectivity by the Irish Life Health member. 
Any treatment cover resulting from this programme, please refer to your member handbook  
Access and eligibility for the programme is subject to Care-Connect’s terms and conditions. 
Your GP or consultant must approve your suitability and you must also meet Care-Connect’s specified clinical indicators which are available to view on www.irishlifehealth.ie/privacy-and-legal/schedule-of-benefits under ‘List of Care Connect health programmes.  Terms and conditions apply. 
See your Table of Cover and Membership Handbook for details.  


Information is correct as at August 2024