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Sleep Apnoea Consortium
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ARTP established the Sleep Apnoea Consortium (SAC) in June 2008 initially to support delivery of the NICE CPAP Technology Appraisal that was launched in March 2008. It also aimed to help raise the profile of Sleep Apnoea in the UK, and to lobby for improvements in funding, service provision and infrastructure from key resources providers. The SAC continues to bring together patients, healthcare professionals with an interest in sleep medicine, manufacturers and distributors of sleep equipment, to shape and influence the quality and standards of sleep apnoea services throughout the United Kingdom.

 

The Aims and Objectives of the SAC are:

  •  To raise the profile of Sleep Apnoea nationally, and lobby for improvements in funding, service provision and infrastructure linked to public relations campaign aimed at key resource providers.
  •  To provide a professional body for healthcare staff (especially sleep nurses, sleep technologists, physiologists and scientists) to be represented nationally, to promote training, voice workforce requirements, and generally provide a forum for people responsible for delivering sleep services to share knowledge, expertise, and information
  •  Supporting the delivery of the NICE CPAP Technology Appraisals/Reviews as required.
  •  To set standards of practice and technical standards for sleep related equipment and therapies.
  •  To co-ordinate and act as a focus group for interested parties in sleep apnoea/sleep disordered breathing including scientists, physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, manufacturers and, most importantly, patients.
  •  To feed into and co-ordinate with the BTS Sleep Advisory Group (BTS SAG) on issues which are of national importance to physicians in sleep and respiration.
  •  To develop/maintain Standards of Care and Technical Standards for the detection and treatment of sleep apnoea.
  •  To develop training qualifications for personnel responsible for the provision and support of sleep apnoea services.
  •  To develop a Voluntary Code of Conduct for the detection and treatment of sleep apnoea services.
  •  To develop consensus statements to respond to consultations, guidelines and recommendations from Department of Health and Social Care, Royal Colleges, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), and other relevant organisations, both national and international.

 

The SAC has already successfully:

  •  Developed Standards of Care for the detection and treatment of sleep apnoea.
  •  Worked with the medical equipment industry members of the consortium, on a voluntary basis, to develop minimum standards for therapeutic and diagnostic devices.
  •  Developed training qualifications for personnel responsible for the provision and support of sleep apnoea services.
  •  Developed a Voluntary Code of Conduct for the detection and treatment of sleep apnoea services.
  •  Developed consensus statements to respond to consultations, guidelines and recommendations from relevant organisations both national and international.

 

Consortium Membership

The Membership of the Sleep Apnoea Consortium is laid out in the Terms of Reference to be:

a) Four members of ARTP. These will include:

  •  A member of the ARTP Education and Training Committee (ex-offico)
  •  A member of the ARTP Manufacturers Liaison Committee
  •  A member of the ARTP Sleep Committee
  •  A member of the ARTP Executive Board


b) Two physicians nominated by the British Thoracic Society (BTS)
c) Two representatives nominated by the British Sleep Society (BSS)

d) Optionally, one representative nominated by each of the following organisations:

  •  The Royal College of Physicians of London (RCP Lon)
  •  The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCP Edin)
  •  Royal Society of Medicine (Sleep Section) RSM
  •  British Paediatric Respiratory Society (BPRS)
  •  The Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists
  •  The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC)
  •  General Practitioners in Airways Group (GPIAG)
  •  British Society of Dental Sleep Medicine (BSDSM)


e) Medical equipment manufacturers/suppliers or pharmaceutical companies with an interest in Sleep Apnoea that undertake to support the work of the consortium by making financial contributions to ARTP SAC operating costs.  The amount of the financial contribution will be determined on an annual basis.  The Consortium should comprise at least 4 different companies which, in the opinion of ARTP, reflect a spectrum of interests in the field of sleep medicine.  The companies do not have to offer equal financial support but nevertheless ARTP expects that contributions should all be more than token contributions, and the bulk of the sponsorship should not come from just one or two companies.  Irrespective of the amounts donated, each company will have equal access to the discussions within the Consortium.  Companies will nominate one named individual to attend on their behalf.  Deputies will be allowed.

f) One representative from each of the following relevant patient organisations:

  •  British Lung Foundation
  •  Sleep Apnoea Trust
  •  OSA Alliance


g) The Consortium can co-opt members to assist with specific projects.  The involvement of these members is subject to approval by the Chair on behalf of the Consortium, who will consult, if necessary, with ARTP Executive Board.

 

Apply Now

To apply to join the SAC, please submit the form below.

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