Our Services
Who We Are
We aim to provide high quality care for patients with a broad spectrum of sleep disorders. We believe that a clear diagnosis is a pre-requisite for effective treatment. A diagnosis helps us have a clear understanding of the underlying causes and mechanisms of disease and direct treatment. For this, we need appropriate diagnostic testing and accurate interpretation aids the diagnostic process.
Dr Jose Thomas
Dr Thomas’ clinical experience spans over three decades and he has been a Consultant Physician since 1995. He is accredited as ‘European Somnologist-Expert in Sleep Medicine’ by the European Sleep Research Society (2014).
Dr Thomas leads the Aneurin Bevan Sleep Centre, the “tertiary” referral centre for Sleep Medicine in Wales. He has an interest in legal aspects of medicine and has prepared medico-legal reports for over 20 years.
Specialist in
Sleep Medicine
Dr Thomas’ main speciality is Sleep Medicine. He has special interests in Neurological sleep disorders, Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders and Behavioural Sleep Medicine in addition to Sleep and Breathing Disorders. He has special expertise in the treatment of chronic insomnia. He also has extensive experience in general respiratory medicine particularly in the diagnosis and management of unexplained breathlessness.
Clinical assessment
An accurate diagnosis is the key to effective treatment. A thorough clinical assessment is the main diagnostic tool in medicine. We provide clinical assessment for respiratory conditions and the full spectrum of sleep disorders. This can be carried out through face-to-face consultations or through remote video consultations.
Respiratory conditions
Dr Thomas is a general respiratory physician with over 30 years of experience in the speciality. He is particularly experienced on the diagnosis of unexplained breathlessness. Over the years, he had led various subspecialities of respiratory medicine including asthma, interstitial lung diseases, pleural disease and lung cancer.
Sleep apnoea and snoring
Neurological Sleep Disorders
Narcolepsy is probably the best known neurological sleep disorder. Restless Legs Syndrome is much more common and mostly undiagnosed in the community. Other neurological sleep disorders include Idiopathic hypersomnia, Sleep walking, sleep terrors, acting out dreams.
Assessment of Insomnia
Insomnia is the commonest sleep complaint and chronic insomnia affects some 10% of the population. Chronic Insomnia is generally thought to be caused by Behvaioural and psychological factors and the best treatment is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia. However, many patients have coexisting physical sleep disorders. Diagnosing and treating these is essential for successful outcome in treatment of insomnia. We conduct a thorough assessment of the underlying factors before deciding the most appropriate treatment. We provide CBT-I in appropriate instances.
Diagnostic Tests
Spirometry (Lung Function Test)
Spirometry is the standard lung function test. It measures the Vital Capacity (VC), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), and Forced Expiratory Volumes (FEV). This is probably the single most useful measure of lung function.
Home Sleep Studies
Diagnostic tests are essential for the assessment of many sleep disorders. They are broadly known as ‘sleep studies.
Home Sleep Apnoea Tests: Most cases of obstructive sleep apnoea can be diagnosed by home sleep studies. They vary in complexity.
Advanced Sleep Studies
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Actigraphy
Treatment
Therapy for sleep disorders
Managing sleep disorders calls for a holistic approach. Good sleep hygiene should perhaps be the starting point. A healthy lifestyle that includes appropriate attention to diet, exercise and exposure to natural light facilitates good sleep. Smoking, alcohol and recreational drug use can have serious impact on sleep and avoiding these can improve sleep.
Other Sleep Disorders
There are many other medical and neurological disorders that present with symptoms in sleep. Examples include sleep-related epilepsy, sleep related ‘acid reflux’, sleep related headaches and others.
CPAP Therapy
Obstructive sleep apnoea is caused by obstruction of the throat that occurs in sleep. This obstruction can be overcome by exerting air pressure in the throat. This is achieved by using a CPAP machine.
Daytime Treatment of Snoring and Sleep Apnoea
Loud snoring and sleep apnoea is usually caused by loss of tone of the muscles of the tongue and pharynx in sleep. Until now, the treatments included wearing CPAP or Oral appliance during sleep or surgical procedures.
CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Our Services
An accurate diagnosis is the key to effective treatment. A thorough clinical assessment is the main diagnostic tool in medicine. We provide clinical assessment for respiratory conditions and the full spectrum of sleep disorders. This can be carried out through face-to-face consultations or through remote video consultations.
Respiratory conditions
Dr Thomas is a general respiratory physician with over 30 years of experience in the speciality. He is particularly experienced on the diagnosis of unexplained breathlessness. Over the years, he had led various subspecialities of respiratory medicine including asthma, interstitial lung diseases, pleural disease and lung cancer.
Sleep apnoea and snoring
Sleep apnoea is the commonest reason for referral to sleep services. It usually starts as light snoring and progresses to loud snoring, shallow breathing in sleep and eventually stoppage of breathing in sleep which is known as apnoea. These disrupt sleep and cause unrefreshing sleep and daytime tiredness and sleepiness We provide clinical assessment, diagnostic tests and treatment for sleep apnoea under one roof.
Neurological Sleep Disorders
Assessment of Insomnia
Insomnia is the commonest sleep complaint and chronic insomnia affects some 10% of the population. Chronic Insomnia is generally thought to be caused by Behvaioural and psychological factors and the best treatment is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia. However, many patients have coexisting physical sleep disorders. Diagnosing and treating these is essential for successful outcome in treatment of insomnia. We conduct a thorough assessment of the underlying factors before deciding the most appropriate treatment. We provide CBT-I in appropriate instances.
Diagnostic Tests
Spirometry (Lung Function Test)
Spirometry is the standard lung function test. It measures the Vital Capacity (VC), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), and Forced Expiratory Volumes (FEV). This is probably the single most useful measure of lung function.
Home Sleep Studies
Diagnostic tests are essential for the assessment of many sleep disorders. They are broadly known as ‘sleep studies. Home Sleep Apnoea Tests: Most cases of obstructive sleep apnoea can be diagnosed by home sleep studies. They vary in complexity.
Advanced Sleep Studies
Actigraphy
Actigraphy is used to monitor sleep over many days or weeks. This is useful in the diagnosis of Circadian Rhythm sleep Disorders and in some cases of insomnia.
Diagnostic Tests
Spirometry (Lung Function Test)
Spirometry is the standard lung function test. It measures the Vital Capacity (VC), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), and Forced Expiratory Volumes (FEV). This is probably the single most useful measure of lung function.
Home Sleep Studies
Diagnostic tests are essential for the assessment of many sleep disorders. They are broadly known as ‘sleep studies. Home Sleep Apnoea Tests: Most cases of obstructive sleep apnoea can be diagnosed by home sleep studies. They vary in complexity.
Advanced Sleep Studies
Monitoring brain activity during sleep requires a complex test known as full Polysomnography (PSG). PSG allows in depth analysis of sleep. A related test known as Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) carried out in the daytime helps measure the level of sleepiness in the day time. Maintenance of Wakefulness Test measures the ability to maintain wakefulness in the day
Actigraphy
Actigraphy is used to monitor sleep over many days or weeks. This is useful in the diagnosis of Circadian Rhythm sleep Disorders and in some cases of insomnia.
Treatment
An accurate diagnosis is the key to effective treatment. A thorough clinical assessment is the main diagnostic tool in medicine. We provide clinical assessment for respiratory conditions and the full spectrum of sleep disorders. This can be carried out through face-to-face consultations or through remote video consultations.
Therapy for sleep disorders
Managing sleep disorders calls for a holistic approach. Good sleep hygiene should perhaps be the starting point. A healthy lifestyle that includes appropriate attention to diet, exercise and exposure to natural light facilitates good sleep. Smoking, alcohol and recreational drug use can have serious impact on sleep and avoiding these can improve sleep.
CPAP Therapy
Obstructive sleep apnoea is caused by obstruction of the throat that occurs in sleep. This obstruction can be overcome by exerting air pressure in the throat. This is achieved by using a CPAP machine.
CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Cognitive Behavioural therapy for insomnia (CTB-I) currently the best available treatment for chronic insomnia disorder. CBT-I involves a number of strategies to break the cycle of insomnia and help patients recognize and change patterns of behaviours and thoughts that contribute to insomnia. Treatment focuses on developing new habits that promote sleep.
Daytime Treatment of Snoring and Sleep Apnoea
Loud snoring and sleep apnoea is usually caused by loss of tone of the muscles of the tongue and pharynx in sleep. Until now, the treatments included wearing CPAP or Oral appliance during sleep or surgical procedures.
Therapy for sleep disorders
Managing sleep disorders calls for a holistic approach. Good sleep hygiene should perhaps be the starting point. A healthy lifestyle that includes appropriate attention to diet, exercise and exposure to natural light facilitates good sleep. Smoking, alcohol and recreational drug use can have serious impact on sleep and avoiding these can improve sleep.
Other Sleep Disorders
There are many other medical and neurological disorders that present with symptoms in sleep. Examples include sleep-related epilepsy, sleep related ‘acid reflux’, sleep related headaches and others.
CPAP Therapy
Obstructive sleep apnoea is caused by obstruction of the throat that occurs in sleep. This obstruction can be overcome by exerting air pressure in the throat. This is achieved by using a CPAP machine.
Daytime Treatment of Snoring and Sleep Apnoea
Loud snoring and sleep apnoea is usually caused by loss of tone of the muscles of the tongue and pharynx in sleep. Until now, the treatments included wearing CPAP or Oral appliance during sleep or surgical procedures.
CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Cognitive Behavioural therapy for insomnia (CTB-I) currently the best available treatment for chronic insomnia disorder. CBT-I involves a number of strategies to break the cycle of insomnia and help patients recognize and change patterns of behaviours and thoughts that contribute to insomnia. Treatment focuses on developing new habits that promote sleep.
