Introduction Many children with sleep difficulties are prescribed melatonin. However, melatonin is costly and evidence for its efficacy is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate a nurse-led sleep clinic to look at outcomes in terms of melatonin prescribing.

Methods All new referrals attending a nurse-led sleep clinic were examined from June 2016 to March 2017. Patients/parents attending the clinic were given an individualised sleep programme to implement with their child at home, with ongoing follow-up support. Families received an average of 3 face-to-face clinic visits and 3 follow-up telephone calls from first visit to discharge. Retrospective data was gathered from clinic records [Clinical Audit approval number CA1309].

Results 69 patients aged 1–17 years (31 males) were analysed. The primary complaint was ‘problem with sleep initiation and maintenance’ (81%), ‘problem with sleep initiation’ (13%) and ‘problem with sleep maintenance’ (6%). 84% of patients had medical co-morbidities; 54% of which were neuro-disability, the commonest being ASD and/or ADHD. 40/69 patients were successfully discharged from the clinic during the evaluation period. 65% were discharged without melatonin (23% with neurodisability; 42% without neurodisability), of which 35% were weaned off melatonin and 30% avoided melatonin prescriptions. 12% felt that the sleep intervention had been successful but still required melatonin, 15% were referred to medical/psychology clinics, and 8% were non-compliant with the behavioural sleep programme and were discharged still taking melatonin.

Discussion In this cohort of paediatric insomnia patients, a brief but intensive behavioural programme with support from a specialist sleep nurse was effective in resolving sleep difficulties and reducing melatonin usage.

We recommend that standardised sleep support from trained practitioners should be available prior to prescribing melatonin for children with sleep difficulties. This approach is not only beneficial in effectively resolving sleep problems but is cost-effective when compared with melatonin prescribing.