PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - S Mandal
AU  - E Suh
AU  - M Davies
AU  - I Smith
AU  - T M Maher
AU  - M W Elliott
AU  - A C Davidson
AU  - N Hart
TI  - Provision of home mechanical ventilation and sleep services for England survey
AID  - 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2013-203566
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - Thorax
PG  - 880--881
VI  - 68
IP  - 9
4099  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/68/9/880.short
4100  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/68/9/880.full
SO  - Thorax2013 Sep 01; 68
AB  - The Department of Health is promoting the generation of specialist networks to manage long term ventilatory weaning and domiciliary non-invasive ventilation patients. Currently the availability of these services in England is not known. We performed a short survey to establish the prevalence of sleep and ventilation diagnostic and treatment services. The survey focussed on diagnostic services and Home Mechanical Ventilation (HMV) provision, and was divided into (a) availability of diagnostics, (b) funding, and (c) patient groups. This survey has confirmed that the majority of Home Mechanical Ventilation set-ups are currently for Obesity Related Respiratory Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. We have found that there is variable provision of diagnostic services, with the majority of units offering overnight oximetry (95%) but only 55% of responders providing a home mechanical ventilation service. Even more interestingly, less than two thirds of units charged their primary care trust for this service. These data may assist in the development of regional networks and specialist home mechanical ventilation centres.