We're really pleased to announce the addition of the Night Shift Positional Therapy device which has been around for a long time and was validated back in 2014 by the FDA for treating positional sleep apnoea and snoring. In fact the August 2018 NICE Guidelines for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea also recommended Positional Modifiers for mild to moderate positional sleep apnoea, so hopefully in the near future sleep clinics will also be able to prescribe devices to patients such as the Night Shift.

What is Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (POSA)?

This is when the results of a sleep study for obstructive sleep apnoea show that the majority of apnoeas and/or hypopnoeas occur when sleeping in the supine (back) position. It is due to gravity causing the tongue to fall back which blocks the airways, and other factors such as gravity changing the shape of the airway causing the soft palate to collapse, the tonsils to crowd the airway and other factors like fat in the neck or receding jaw etc crowding the airway. 

If Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (POSA) is proven on a sleep study there is a good chance that sleeping on the side or even on the front (but beware that prone sleeping long-term can cause neck and back pain) can cure the sleep apnoea, but even if it doesn't fully cure it good results can be achieved in lowering the severity and can it can even lead to lower CPAP pressures. As under our 'important note' on the page though, please always request a repeat sleep apnoea or take a private sleep study before  making a decision to come off prescribed CPAP or other therapy for the sleep apnoea.

What is Positional Snoring?

This is exactly the same as for Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (POSA) in that most snoring takes place for the same reasons when laid in the supine position. The difference is that not all snorers do have sleep apnoea (although due to the health risks of untreated sleep apnoea it is definitely always worth having a sleep study to rule out obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), either at a sleep clinic or even a private sleep study).

Even when snoring isn't causing OSA it still needs addressing, as snoring, apart from causing unrestful and interrupted sleep to the snorer, can cause health issues such as thickening of the artery walls (Carotid Atherosclerosis) - as well as disturbing the sleep of the bed partner! Therefore, if snoring does happen mostly when sleeping on the back (supine) position, this is one of the first things to try to avoid, even though other factors may help as well in combination like Nasal Strips, Oral Strips, (safe) Mouth Strips or other solutions like Nasal Dilators, Saline or prescribed Nasal Sprays etc.

What is a Positional Therapy Device?

There are a range of devices for keeping the snorer or the diagnosed sleep apnoea patient off the back, ranging from sewing a tennis ball into a t-shirt through to superior devices like this Night Shift. The difference and price of the Night Shift is that as well as training you to sleep off your back by the gentle vibrations (certainly less disruptive than the better partner giving a sharp elbow nudge) to encourage you to change sleep positions, the user of the NightBalance can keep of track of how they're doing via the apps or computer software (explained later on this page) to compare how you feel during the day and how well you slept by seeing the evidence on the reports:-

Hope2Sleep Charity's Observations:-

The Night Shift has evolved over the years so that there are now two options of using it, either with the original neck strap or the addition of the optional chest belt, to suit individual preference:-

(Please note the Chest Belt is not supplied with the Night Shift and is an optional extra. If choosing to use the Night Shift with the Chest Belt the device will need setting up in the software before use for accurate data).

The reason we believe the Night Shift to be a better option than cheaper devices or self-help positional treatments like sewing a tennis ball into the back of a t-shirt for sleeping, is that it's so important to check that you are actually managing to sleep off your back and the free apps and computer software will give evidence of this, as it's not possible to know how you're sleeping without someone watching you all night.

Advanced Brain Monitoring say:-

(Click on image below to download the therapy applications from the manufacturer's website)

Example of an Efficacy Report (and other compliancy reports are available)

Tracks how frequently and how quickly you respond to vibrations, positional feedback and assessing both sleep quality and snoring 

Clinical Evidence

Our research has shown that up to 70% of patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea are substantially more severe when back-sleeping 1.   This results from the tongue falling back and blocking the airway and gravity contributing to increased collapsibility of the airway 1. We also found that 20% of sleep apnoea patients would have little-to-no breathing problems if back-sleeping were avoided 2.

In our studies of Night Shift positional therapy the following results were found: 1,3

SOME COMMON QUESTIONS

How do I know if I'm a good candidate for the Night Shift?

What if I can't fall asleep unless I'm on my back?

Night Shift delays the start of therapy for 15 minutes after the device is turned on in order to give you time to fall asleep on your back. If you need more time, you can use the Report Portal to increase the delay to 30 minutes.

Won't the delivery of vibro-tactile positional therapy interrupt my sleep?

If you have sleep apnoea, you may experience fewer interruptions than you do now. In the previous study of Night Shift for prescription use, both brief arousals, as well as awakenings, were significantly reduced because patients slept more deeply. Users recalled position avoidance therapy on average twice per night, yet they attempted to sleep supine on average seven times per night.

How do I choose between the neck strap or chest belt?

The chest belt is simply an alternative for those who prefer not to receive therapy on the neck. The chest belt must be worn more tightly than the neck strap to stay in place during sleep, and sleep efficiency and awakenings are not reported.
(If the chest belt is preferred, you must adjust the settings in the Night Shift software before use).

The Chest Belt is an additional optional accessory and available on a separate listing

(There are lots more questions and answers on the manufacturer's website:-

• FAQ about the Night Shift Device

• FAQ about the Night Shift Portal Software

• FAQ about the App Software

Included in the Box:-

• Night Shift Device

• Neck Strap (Silicone) with magnetic clasps

• USB Charging/Data Cable

• Instruction Leaflet

Optional Extra:-

• Chest Belt (Neoprene) 

Specification:-

Software Requirements:-

Warranty:-

Click here to download optional Chest Belt Set Up Instructions

Important Notes

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnoea and believe the Night Shift or other positional remedy has been successful in keeping you off your back during sleep, please insist on a repeat sleep study from your clinic or even privately like our own sleep study service to check that successfully changing your sleep position has cured the sleep apnoea before coming off your CPAP therapy or other treatment.

​You must NOT use the Night Shift in the following circumstances:-

• ​Suffer from tics or tremors of the head

• Suffer from cardiac arrhythmia corrected by an artificial pace-maker

• Have neck less than 12 inches (30 cm) or greater than 22 inches (56 cm) for use with the neck strap

• Have a chest larger than 59 inches (150 cm) for use with the chest belt

• Are currently suffering from neck, shoulder, or back pain

• Have an open cut or would near where the Night Shift is worn (you may need to temporarily discontinue use)

ORDERS

Shipping

We try our best to ship all orders received by us Monday-Friday on the same working day if received before 12 noon, and more often than not orders processed before 3pm will be despatched the same day whenever possible.  Weekend or UK bank holiday orders are sent out the next working day.  An automated email is sent when products have been despatched so please check your spam box and add us to your safe senders list.  Also, if you do not receive an email confirmation, please check that you have typed the correct email address in your account.

All orders are sent via 1st class mail within the UK.  Masks and some other more expensive products are always sent via 'signed for' insured delivery and cannot be left in 'safe' places, but there is the option for an alternative shipping address when processing the orders. 

Delivery charges are worked out automatically by weight and you can clearly see the delivery charges before making a payment.  On the rare occasion delivery charges are miscalculated by the website, a refund will be sent, as it is not our policy to make money on postage charges and neither do we add the cost of delivery into the price and offer so-called  'free delivery' like some sites and Ebay pressurise sellers to do! 

Wherever possible with larger parcels, we try to re-use boxes to keep shipping costs down and protect the environment.

If a product is out of stock and the order contains multiple items, the 'in stock' items will be sent immediately and further items will follow upon arrival with no further postage charges incurred.  

Important for International Orders

We can ship most products internationally, but all prices are in UK British Pounds and if paying by debit or credit card the bank will automatically convert to the current conversation rate.  Likewise, if you choose the Paypal option, they will convert into your currency for you as payment is made.  

International orders are sent via tracked Airmail, and whilst we're happy to ship internationally, we cannot be held responsible for any delays at Customs at your end, or charges that may be added in your own country, such as customs fees and import tax on delivery, which are determined by your country’s import laws and are beyond our control. Therefore, it is the customer’s responsibility to pay these charges, and certain courier companies will not be able to deliver the goods to you without pre-payment of any charges. From our experience, it appears to be randomised as to which parcels incur extra charges, but please know that all accompanying paperwork is filled in correctly when shipping and there is nothing more we can do, as much as we'd like to.

If you purchase from us out of the UK or you move to another country after purchasing products, please be aware that the warranty for CPAP machines, masks and parts from the manufacturers are under warranty  with the manufacturer based in the UK, so you will be responsible for sending the product back to us and will need to pay postage to get the product back to you after exchange or repair, as the manufacturer will not pay for shipping in any country outside of the UK.

RETURNS

Masks, CPAP machines and and most other products are exempt from a refund or exchange unless faulty due to health and hygiene issues - as stated in our 'Terms and Conditions', and in particular due to the risk of cross contamination as they cannot be re-sold. The Consumer Contracts Regulations 28.(3)(a) confirms exemption as follows:-  "exemption in the case of a contract for the supply of sealed goods which are not suitable for return due to health protection or hygiene reasons, if they become unsealed after delivery."

Unopened (sealed) products in their original packing can be returned within 14 days for a refund of the product cost, but the purchaser is to pay the return postage, and we would advise retaining proof of postage. This excludes any faulty goods, for which postage will be reimbursed.  A full refund for the price of the product will be issued when received by us, less the original postage charges when the order was sent to you.

VAT DECLARATION/INFORMATION

Most of the products we sell are eligible for Zero Rated VAT in the UK, and in order to qualify, you should meet the criteria for the following HMRC VAT Declaration:-

1. You or the person you are purchasing on behalf of have "a condition that the medical profession treats as a chronic sickness, that is a long term health condition" (sleep apnoea and sleep disordered breathing, which require therapy, are such conditions).
2. "The goods or services are for the personal or domestic use of the customer."

Please note, you do not need to be registered as disabled or in receipt of any other benefits in order to be eligible for VAT relief - you only need to meet the criteria of the above 2 points.

We cannot advise on individual cases, but more information can be found on HMRC’s website under notice 701/7 on the following link  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-notice-7017-vat-reliefs-for-disabled-people. 

If you are not eligible for Zero Rated VAT then please make sure that the VAT Relief box in unticked so that VAT is applied to the order.

If you are purchasing on behalf of someone else who meets the above criteria, you must provide their name and address, and you will be prompted of this during the checkout process.

Customers living outside of the UK do not pay UK VAT charges, so please leave the the VAT Relief box ticked.  However, we cannot be held responsible for any additional costs incurred when the products reach your own country.

If you are purchasing with the intention of re-selling any products, you are liable to pay VAT on all products so you must untick the 'zero rate eligibility' box which will add VAT to your order.

Any products that our not eligible for zero rate VAT, will not display the VAT Declaration, and VAT will be added at checkout.

CPAP and APAP Machines are a prescription item and we cannot release them until we have signed permission from your sleep clinic or a prescription from a sleep professional.

If you do have a prescription already, you can email it to us at sales@hope2sleep.co.uk or send it via post to the address on our 'contact us' page

If you do not have an existing prescription we have a downloadable form on the link below.   Please fill in your name and address on the form which can then be taken to, sent to or emailed to your clinic, as without approval we cannot release any CPAP machines. 

As soon as we have this permission you can purchase a CPAP machine, or we will  send your machine if you have already placed your order.  Please email the completed form back to us as soon as possible after placing an order to sales@hope2sleep.co.uk so that we can arrange delivery to you.

Please note that if your clinic have instructed us to change any settings on the machine, this will be done by us prior to sending the CPAP out to you.

Click here to download the Prescription Form

CPAP Masks are NOT a prescription item so no approval is needed.

If you have any queries before or after purchase of a CPAP machine, please contact us on sales@hope2sleep.co.uk or telephone our local number during office hours on 01482 374181 or the charity line on 0300 102 9711.