NHS referrals to Sleepstation

Digitally delivered, fully supported NHS sleep service

We combine psychology and sleep science with dedicated support to improve sleep for patients with all forms of insomnia. Our expert sleep team deliver remote care with a personal touch.

Sleepstation is a digitally delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia - CBTi. NICE recommends CBTi as the first-line approach for chronic insomnia.

Sleepstation resolves insomnia symptoms and improves quality of life for over 80% of patients who engage with the programme. Our expertise in engagement is what makes Sleepstation so powerful. A recent study has shown Sleepstation to be three times more engaging than unsupported sleep improvement apps. Over 75% of patients fully engage with the Sleepstation programme.

Dr Moulin

GP at Amersham Vale Practice

I am grateful for your service. Especially for patients who are suffering from mild and moderate depression. Most of them have sleeping issues but waiting time for therapy is now between 4 and 6 months. Referring to Sleepstation helps them wait. This gives me an extra option to make patients feel less abandoned.

Sleepstation can effectively address all forms of insomnia

In published research, Sleepstation’s CBTi programme produced large improvements across measures of sleep quality. The benefits associated with CBTi persist on completion of treatment, unlike those associated with medication. ^{1 2}

CBTi is widely recommended in clinical guidelines as the first-line treatment for insomnia based on extensive evidence of effectiveness for sleep improvement and associated improvements in mental health, wellbeing and quality of life. ^{3 4 5 6 7}

CBTi has been shown to be superior to pharmacotherapy in both short and long-term management of insomnia in adults of all ages. ^{3 4}

Patients prefer CBTi to medication

Studies examining patients’ acceptance of psychological and pharmacological therapies for insomnia have concluded that patients perceive CBTi as healthier and preferable to taking medications for managing insomnia over the long-term. ^{8 9 10} [^11]

Interestingly, in circumstances where clinicians think CBTi would be helpful, they still mistakenly believe that patients would be reluctant to engage with the programme and would, in fact, prefer a quick medication fix. ¹¹

Professor Joe McDonald

Medical Director, Consultant Psychiatrist

As a consultant psychiatrist for 30 years it is always tempting to prescribe hypnotics when you are seeing a patient complaining of insomnia but with all the attendant risks of dependence, hangover, road traffic accidents etc. it is usually a mistake. Sleepstation offers an effective and safe alternative to prescribing which has now been used in over half of England’s General Practices.

Sleepstation delivers remote care with a personal touch

• Reduced risk (compared to prescribing hypnotics)
• No evidence of hangover
• No evidence of tolerance
• No evidence of dependency
• No daytime sedation
• No negative effect on memory or psychomotor function
• Easy to access
• No waiting lists
• Outcome focussed
• Long-lasting effects
• Resolves all types of insomnia (sleep onset, middle of the night and early waking)
• Proven efficacy in secondary insomnia
• Preferred by patients

Information for referrers PDF

A PDF document providing more information about our service and the patient pathway is available for download and free to share with NHS colleagues.

Download referrer information PDF

Sleep medicine training

Our team also provide sleep medicine training for NHS referrers. This training is delivered at no charge to the practice/organisation providing a minimum of five people attend. Training is currently being delivered via webinar. An outline of the training programme is provided below. To register, email training@sleepstation.org.uk

How to recognise and treat sleep problems

• What is sleep?
• Why it is important
• Taking a quick sleep history
• Common sleep problems and what to do about them
• Pharmacological treatments for insomnia
• Non-pharmacological treatments for insomnia

Try it yourself

If you work for the NHS and you’re struggling with your sleep, you can try Sleepstation for yourself. A specially adapted version of the Sleepstation programme has been made available free of charge to all NHS staff in response to COVID-19.