The Patient Pathway
How It Works
A straightforward, consultant-led process from first appointment to clear diagnosis — in your own home, at your own pace.
For Isle of Man Residents
Fast access. Local care. Clear answers.
NHS referral pathways for sleep disorders on the Isle of Man can involve significant waits. Isle Sleep was established to give Manx residents direct, private access to a gold-standard home sleep study — with consultant-reviewed results and a treatment plan, without leaving the island.
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Initial Appointment
You meet with our clinical team at Barrule Medical Group. We take a full sleep history, complete an Epworth Sleepiness Scale assessment, and where appropriate carry out nasal photography. We will confirm whether a home sleep study is the right next step.
- 2
Home Sleep Study
We provide a Stowood Black Flash ambulatory recording device to take home. You wear it for two consecutive nights in your own bed — no hospital admission, no disruption to your routine. The device records airflow, blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, and breathing patterns while you sleep.
- 3
Return & Consultant Review
You return the device to us. Your recording is reviewed by a qualified respiratory consultant via our telehealth pathway. This is the clinical keystone of the service — a specialist assessment, not an automated algorithm.
- 4
Your Diagnostic Report
You receive a full written diagnostic report detailing the findings, a confirmed diagnosis where one exists, and an AHI (Apnoea–Hypopnoea Index) score. The report is yours to keep and share with your GP or any other clinician.
- 5
Treatment Plan
We discuss your results and agree a treatment plan. Options include CPAP therapy, a mandibular advancement splint, ENT referral via Mr. Hogg at Barrule Medical Group, or an onward NHS pathway if preferred. You leave with a clear plan and a point of contact.
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Follow-Up & Monitoring
For patients who begin CPAP therapy, we offer follow-up appointments and compliance monitoring. This is an ongoing relationship — not a single transaction.
The telehealth consultant review is the clinical keystone.
Every recording is reviewed by a qualified respiratory consultant — not processed by software alone. This ensures the diagnosis is clinically defensible, acceptable for insurance purposes, and appropriate as the basis for treatment.
For UK & Visiting Patients
The study is the reason to visit. The island is the reward.
A 2–3 day visit to the Isle of Man can accommodate a complete sleep diagnostic study — arrival, initial appointment, two nights of recording, and a results consultation — whilst leaving time to experience everything the island has to offer.
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Get in Touch
Contact us before you travel. We will discuss your symptoms, confirm the sleep study is appropriate, and help you plan a visit that works around your schedule. We are happy to correspond by email, phone, or video call.
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Arrive on the Island
Travel to the Isle of Man by air from Manchester, Liverpool, London, Dublin, or Belfast — or by fast ferry from Heysham or Liverpool. Your initial appointment takes place on the day of arrival or the following morning.
- 3
Initial Appointment
Your clinical assessment at Barrule Medical Group. We confirm your sleep history, complete the Epworth Scale assessment, and fit the Stowood device. The appointment is relaxed and unhurried.
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Two Nights of Recording
You wear the device for two nights in your accommodation. The rest of your time on the island is your own — walk the coastal paths, explore the market towns, or simply rest. The study works around your stay, not the other way around.
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Results Consultation
On your final morning, you return the device and we begin the consultant review. Where the recording is clear, we aim to discuss preliminary findings before you leave. Your full written report follows within a few days.
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Leave with a Plan
You return home with a diagnostic report, a treatment plan, and — where appropriate — everything needed to start CPAP therapy. We remain available for follow-up by phone, video, or in person on a return visit.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the sleep study painful or uncomfortable?
No. The Stowood Black Flash device is worn on the wrist and finger overnight — similar in size and feel to a watch. There are no needles, tubes, or procedures involved. Most patients sleep normally while wearing it.
What does the device actually measure?
Airflow (via nasal cannula), peripheral blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂), heart rate, and body movement. These measurements allow the consultant to identify and classify apnoea events, hypopnoea, and oxygen desaturation.
Why two nights rather than one?
Night-to-night variability is well recognised in sleep research. A second recording night significantly improves diagnostic reliability, particularly for patients with borderline or mild presentations. We consider it standard practice.
Who reviews the results?
A qualified respiratory consultant, via our telehealth pathway. You receive a consultant-signed report — not an automated scoring output. This is what makes the diagnostic meaningful and acceptable for insurance or onward clinical use.
How long until I get my report?
We aim to complete the consultant review and issue the written report within five to seven working days of the device being returned.
Can I share the report with my GP?
Yes — and we encourage it. The report is a clinical document that your GP can act on. If you would like us to write to your GP directly, we can arrange that.
What if my result is normal?
A normal result is a valuable outcome. It rules out obstructive sleep apnoea as the cause of your symptoms and opens the way to investigating other causes — which we can help to facilitate.
Ready to Start?
Book your initial appointment
The first step is a short appointment with our clinical team. No referral required for private patients.