This session focuses on improving sleep on inpatient wards.
In-patients often have major disruption to their sleep. For many this precedes the index admission, but ward environments often exacerbate the disruption due to high noise levels at night, minimal daylight, and direct physical interruption from the overnight nursing observations. There are high rates of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea. Sleep disturbance in hospitals is known to increase agitation, suicidal thoughts, falls and delirium and it is well established that treating sleep disruption is a route to improve health.
Within this session we will share the latest innovations in sleep treatments, specifically designed for inpatient wards. A multimodal intervention called SleepWell will be described (Dr Kirstie Anderson), research findings from a psychological sleep treatment will be shared (OWLS trial, Dr Bryony Sheaves).
Strongly positive feedback was received from service users and staff who felt this helped recovery, and was personalised and trauma informed care. Resources developed included short training videos around insomnia that decreased hypnotic prescriptions by 41%. The SleepWell protocol was published and has won multiple awards for innovative practice. Dr Keown will present a 4-year review of mortality data that highlighted this is safe with no deaths relating to protected sleep periods
The Oxford Ward Sleep Solution (OWLS) is a two-week intensive psychological therapy for sleep disruption, specifically designed for acute psychiatric inpatient wards. A pilot randomised controlled trial tested the treatment (delivered by a clinical psychologist) compared against treatment as usual. Results demonstrated large effect size improvements in insomnia and promising reductions in the duration of the index admission. A subsequent implementation project will be presented, with the intervention facilitated by an assistant psychologist. Outcome measure data and qualitative feedback from patients will be presented that demonstrate the potential value of the treatment when delivered in routine clinical practice.
Learning objectives
By the end of this webinar you should be able to:
• understand the factors associated with disturbed sleep on inpatient wards
• understand the importance of detecting sleep disorders
• understand interventions that help to improve sleep and reduce the use of hypnotics
• understand the use of protected sleep periods.
Speakers
Chair: Dr Mohamed Morsy, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation
Dr Kirstie Anderson, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Dr Patrick Keown, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Dr Bryony Sheaves, Oxford University, Oxford
Funding
RCPsych International Congress is financially supported by the purchase of exhibition stand packages. A full list of confirmed exhibitors can be found here: Exhibiting Organisations at International Congress 2026
Availability
This webinar is part of the Congress webinar 2026 package. If you attended all four days of Congress, you will have access to these as part of your Congress package. Otherwise the Congress webinar 2026 package can be purchased below.
