The short answer
See a GP if you've had trouble sleeping for months, it affects your daily life, or self-help hasn't worked. See one sooner if someone notices you stop breathing or gasp in your sleep, you fall asleep in the day without meaning to, or restless legs keep you awake. Keep a two-week sleep diary to take along.
On this page
When should you see a GP?
According to the NHS, see a GP if:
- changing your sleeping habits hasn’t helped,
- you’ve had trouble sleeping for months,
- poor sleep is affecting your daily life in a way that makes it hard to cope.
Also see a GP if you notice any of these:
| Sign | Could be |
|---|---|
| Loud snoring with pauses in breathing, gasping or choking | Sleep apnoea |
| Falling asleep in the day without meaning to, even after a full night | Sleep apnoea, narcolepsy or another sleep disorder |
| Sudden muscle weakness when laughing or surprised | Narcolepsy with cataplexy |
| An urge to move your legs at night that stops you sleeping | Restless legs syndrome |
| Acting out dreams, shouting or lashing out in sleep | A sleep disorder that needs assessment |
| Low mood, worry or loss of interest along with poor sleep | Depression or anxiety |
When is it urgent?
Get help straight away if you feel you can’t go on or are thinking of harming yourself: call 111, select the mental health option, or call Samaritans free on 116 123. Call 999 or go to A&E if someone stops breathing and doesn’t restart, or can’t be woken.
If you have fallen asleep at the wheel or nearly did, stop driving and see a GP. Sleepiness from a sleep condition may need to be reported to the DVLA.
How to prepare for your appointment
- Keep a sleep diary for two weeks. Note when you go to bed, roughly how long it takes to fall asleep, how often you wake, when you get up, naps, caffeine, alcohol and how you feel in the day.
- Bring your bed partner or their notes, if they have noticed snoring, pauses in breathing or movements.
- List your medicines, including anything you buy from a pharmacy or online, such as sleep aids.
- Think about how it affects you, such as work, driving, mood or relationships.
What can a GP offer?
A GP can treat causes such as pain, depression, an overactive thyroid or low iron, review medicines that may disturb sleep, offer or refer you for CBT for insomnia, and refer you to a sleep clinic for tests if they suspect sleep apnoea, narcolepsy or another sleep disorder.
Keep reading
- Insomnia: causes, self-help and treatment in the UK
What insomnia is, why it becomes long-term, what you can do yourself, and what the NHS offers, from CBT for insomnia to short courses of sleeping pills.
- CBT for insomnia: how it works and how to get it on the NHS
What CBT for insomnia involves, including sleep restriction and stimulus control, how well it works in trials, and how to get it through the NHS or an app.
Strong - Sleep apnoea and snoring: signs, tests and treatment
How to tell ordinary snoring from obstructive sleep apnoea, why apnoea matters, how the NHS tests for it, CPAP and other treatments, and the DVLA rules.
Common questions
What will a GP do about insomnia?
A GP will ask about your sleep, mood, health, medicines, alcohol and caffeine, and look for causes such as depression, pain or sleep apnoea. For insomnia itself, they may offer CBT for insomnia, face to face or online. Sleeping pills are only prescribed for short periods in severe cases.
Can I refer myself to a sleep clinic?
Not usually on the NHS. You'll normally need a GP referral. Private sleep clinics accept self-referral, but a GP visit first makes sense, as many problems can be managed without a clinic.
Should I see a GP about my child's sleep?
Yes, if your child snores loudly with pauses in breathing, is very sleepy in the day, or has sleep problems that affect their behaviour or learning. Night terrors and sleepwalking are common in young children and usually harmless, but see a GP if they are frequent or worrying.
References
- NHS. Insomnia.nhs.uk
- NHS. Sleep apnoea.nhs.uk
- NHS. Restless legs syndrome.nhs.uk
- NHS. Narcolepsy.nhs.uk
- GOV.UK. Excessive sleepiness and driving.gov.uk
First published 4 November 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll correct it. Read our editorial policy.