Mallow General Hospital to become regional centre for study of sleep apnea

Mallow is set to become a regional centre for the treatment of sleep apnea after it was revealed that the Friends of Mallow General Hospital will part-fund the setting up of the service in the hospital.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterised by pauses in breathing or instances of shallow or infrequent breathing during sleep, and Dr John Kiely will head-up a sleep clinic in Mallow General Hospital to treat this condition. The HSE has agreed to recruit a pulmonary scientist to work with Dr Kiely, and has also put up half the cost of setting it up, with the Friends paying the balance of €70,000. Noel O’Connor of the Friends of Mallow General Hospital said the group was delighted to support the setting up of the clinic, saying, “Mallow will be a regional centre for the investigation and treat-ment of sleep apnea, and it’s great that the people of Mallow and North Cork can see their donations support-ing Mallow General Hospital in this way.” He continued, “It’s exciting for the hospital to be able to take in three patients per night, compared to one a night in CUH, to study this condition which has links to heart issues.”