Bass Coast Health (BCH) is providing a new service to help people suspected of having sleep apnoea.
BCH has expanded its respiratory services to include a sleep clinic for patients needing assessment for sleep apnoea.
BCH Chief Medical Officer Dr Renee Kelsall said poor sleep can have a significant impact on a person’s health and in many cases, this can be corrected with the right specialist advice.
“Poor quality sleep associated with sleep apnoea can make it hard to function through the day,” she said.
“Fortunately our new service is here to help Bass Coast residents who may have sleep apnoea to be assessed and given strategies to help improve their health and ultimately enjoy a better sleep.”
The new service entails an overnight test at home. A nurse fits the patient with a special device that monitors their body and provides full instructions about how to use it. Patients return the device the next day and information gathered by the device is sent to a specialist sleep team at the Alfred Hospital.
The team provides a report for our Respiratory Specialist Physician Dr Suzy Guo to determine the further course of action, if necessary. Dr Guo sees patients fortnightly at the Phillip Island Health Hub and via telehealth consultations where appropriate.
She sees patients after they’ve been in hospital or who have been referred by a GP or a Respiratory Nurse Consultant. Dr Guo can also help with respiratory illnesses such as Chronic Obstructive Airways disease (Emphysema), Asthma, unresolved cough, Bronchiectasis, Pneumonia, Pleural effusion, Pneumothorax and Lung Cancer, and also patients needing assessment for home oxygen.
Appointments to see Dr Guo can be made via referral through the BCH Access team on fax 03 9102 5307 or via email Access@basscoasthealth.org.au
The new services complement the existing support BCH has offered to patients with Chronic Respiratory conditions for many years: specialist nurse consultations, rehabilitation groups and support.