Assembly of National Sleep Societies (ANSS)

The Assembly of National Sleep Societies (ANSS) is a grouping of European sleep societies with the common goal to develop sleep medicine and sleep research.

The ANSS is a formal body of the ESRS and represents the affiliated members from different European sleep societies. The ESRS admits national sleep societies as associates to the assembly.

31 European national sleep societies are currently members of the ANSS representing a total of 7.114 associate members.

The role and activities of the ANSS are described in the constitution and standard operational procedures of the executive committee.

The ANSS is represented in the following ESRS bodies: ESRS Board, Education Committee and Sleep Medicine Committee.

History

The first congregation of European national sleep societies was organised by Prof. Irene Tobler, former president of the ESRS. The meeting took place in Mallorca (ES) on April 2-4, 2004. Delegates from 20 national sleep societies presented recent developments in their countries.

There was an unanimous demand for a coordinated endeavor to further develop sleep medicine in Europe at an international level.  It was proposed to introduce European standards for education and accreditation. Furthermore, a need was perceived for the institution of a body that would stand for the interests of the sleep community in the EU. An international consortium could increase the visibility of sleep science and exert impact at the political level.

It was obvious that the ESRS could play a role as an umbrella organisation for such a project. A change of the bylaws was envisaged to secure the establishment of an international assembly and to include ‘sleep medicine’ as a key objective. It was proposed to introduce ‘associate’ membership in addition to the individual ‘regular’ membership. Each national society willing to be part of this venture would have to apply for associate membership.

To implement these new ideas, a steering committee of five individuals was appointed, each being president of a national sleep society at that time. Their primary tasks were to prepare guidelines in consensus with all societies that were interested, to coordinate the future interactions between the ESRS and national sleep societies, and to prepare an annual meeting between delegates of the ESRS Board and the presidents of national societies. The annual ANSS meeting is now held every year on the weekend after May 1st.

The steering committee started working on a regular basis from 2004. At the general assembly of the ESRS in Innsbruck, September 2006, the ANSS became an official body of the ESRS. The steering committee was transformed into the executive committee of the ANSS and appointed one of its members to the ESRS board. The role and activities of the ANSS are described in the constitution and standard operational procedures of the executive committee.

Thus, the ESRS has been successful at creating a dynamic structure for interaction with European national sleep societies. This platform has enabled the development of new task forces, guidelines and common educational programs to further progress of sleep research and sleep medicine in Europe.

Executive Committee

Beyond Boundaries Project

There are serious differences between countries, their health systems, and coverage of sleep disorders. In some countries, there is a lack of registered specialized National Sleep Society, while in others the NSS is present but due to lack of interest or communication or overall activity they are not in the European federation of NSSs now.

In their interaction with these countries the ANSS Executive Committee felt a clear need to research this aspect in more detail and try to discuss and meet the expectations of countries in helping them to establish/develop sleep fields or facilitate some specific activities.

In 2019, the ANSS EC spearheaded a project task force to cover this gap. Learn more about the ‘Beyond Boundaries’ project, its purposes and how to get involved.

Speakers at the symposium Beyond Boundaries project Armenia 2019
Speakers at the symposium Beyond Boundaries project Armenia 2019.

Milestones

2023

Meeting Location: Amsterdam, Netherland

2022

Meeting Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia

2021

Meeting Location: Online

2020

Meeting Location: Online

2019

Meeting Location: Armenia
ANSS Beyond Boundaries Project pilot event

2019

Meeting Location: St. Petersburg, Russia

2018

Meeting Location: Parma, Italy

2017

Meeting Location: Reykjavik, Iceland

2014

Meeting Location: Graz, Austria

Close collaboration in the definition of the Catalogue of knowledge and skills, Delphi round by all National Sleep Society presidents in the validation process of the catalogue:
Catalogue of knowledge and skills for sleep medicine. Penzel T, Pevernagie D, Dogas Z, Grote L, de Lacy S, Rodenbeck A, Bassetti C, Berg S, Cirignotta F, d’Ortho MP, Garcia-Borreguero D, Levy P, Nobili L, Paiva T, Peigneux P, Pollmächer T, Riemann D, Skene DJ, Zucconi M, Espie C; Sleep Medicine Committee; European Sleep Research Society. J. Sleep Res. 2014 Apr;23(2):222-38.

ESRS internal report on education, certification, and accreditation of sleep medicine services in European National Sleep Societies

ESRS internal report on reimbursement of sleep medicine services in Europe

2013

Meeting Location: Copenhagem, Denmark

Collaboration on the ESRS Wake-up Bus project.

The creation of the Early Career Researcher Network (ECRN) was discussed at the meeting in Copenhagen 2013 and launched the following year.

2011

Meeting Location: Porto, Portugal

2010

Meeting Location: Antalya, Turkey

2008

Meeting Location: Split, Croatia

2007

Meeting Location: Palma de Mallorca, Spain

2006

Meeting Location: Bayrischzell, Germany

Initiative for the definition of Sleep Medicine Centre accreditation criteria:
European guidelines for the accreditation of Sleep Medicine Centres. Pevernagie D; Steering Committee of European Sleep Research Society. J Sleep Res. 2006 Jun;15(2):231-8.

2004

Meeting Location: Palma de Mallorca, Spain

The first congregation of European national sleep societies was organised by Prof. Irene Tobler, former president of the ESRS. The meeting took place in Mallorca (ES) on April 2-4, 2004.

History of the ANSS