Frequently asked questions

 

How do I make an appointment?

Dr Cunnington sees patients via Telehealth or in person at Melbourne Sleep Disorders Centre (Suite 508, 100 Victoria Pde, East Melbourne). 

To make an appointment you can contact the practice via:

 

What do consultations cost?

As a private clinic there are out-of-pocket costs for consultations. With a valid Medicare referral, rebates are available which partially cover the cost of consultations. 

Consultation fees:

  • Initial consultation: $360 (Medicare rebate $135.45)
  • Follow-up consultation: $195 (Medicare rebate $67.80)
  • These fees are discounted by $40 for pensioners and health care card holders.

Does Dr Cunnington offer Telehealth appointments?

Yes. Telehealth is a Medicare initiative that allows medical specialists to offer consultations using videoconferencing. Using Telehealth allows David to offer consultations to people from around Australia.

Note: 

  • From June 30th 2022, telephone consultations receive a reduced Medicare rebate compared to video or face-to-face consultations
  • David is not able to offer consultations to people outside Australia.

What types of sleep studies does Dr Cunnington do?

Dr Cunnington arranges both laboratory-based and home-based sleep studies. Exactly what type of study will best provide the information needed to help your sleep problem is determined when you see Dr Cunnington during your consultation. 

Laboratory studies: involve spending a night in a sleep laboratory and are used to assess complex sleep problems and adjust CPAP settings.

Home-based sleep studies: are suitable for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea in people considered to be at high risk of sleep apnea.

What should I bring to my appointment?

As David is a specialist physician, you will need to bring a referral from your doctor. This is a Medicare requirement to be eligible for Medicare rebates.

You can send us a copy of the referral as well as upload any previous results via our registration form before your appointment.

If you have been having trouble with irregular or unpredictable sleep, or symptoms of insomnia, completing a sleep diary can be helpful. It can also be helpful to complete questionnaires that help to measure symptoms and their severity as well as other factors that may be impacting on sleep such as anxiety and mood. Sleep diaries and questionnaires can be downloaded here.

What should I expect at my appointment with Dr Cunnington?

At your first appointment with David, you should expect to discuss your sleep problems as well as any other health conditions and medications. Using that information David will discuss possible diagnoses and any tests that may be required to establish what the problem is, as well as outline a management plan.

David will usually use a sleep study as part of the assessment process to look at what is actually happening during sleep. Different sleep disorders often have similar symptoms, so a sleep study is an important tool in diagnosing sleep disorders and the impact they are having.

Follow-up appointments are to review results of tests, assess response to treatment and update management plans based on progress. 

When does Dr Cunnington have appointments?

David consults every day Monday to Friday, and has early appointments (from 8:20am) and afternoon appointments (to 4:00pm).

Although the usual waiting time for new appointments is around 6 weeks, David has flexibility in scheduling to be able to see urgent cases within a week if needed.

What does a sleep physician do?

As medical specialists, sleep physicians are highly skilled experts in managing sleep disorders and medical problems associated with them.

Sleep physicians assess people to make a diagnosis, based on symptoms and test results, which often includes a sleep study. Then develop a management plan that is tailored to the individual taking in to account their other medical problems and preferences.

When should I see a sleep doctor about my sleep problem?

Many sleep problems are related to lifestyle factors, so this is the place to start if you feel like you’re not sleeping well. Ensuring that you’re allowing enough opportunity for sleep, sufficient time to wind down before sleeping and not undertaking stimulating activities prior to retiring to sleep is important.

However, if despite these measures, you still find that you’re sleeping poorly, that is when you should see a sleep physician.