Does this share my data with my employer?

No. Never. Shiftlyx sits beside the NHS system — it doesn't connect to it. Your rota stays on your device. We don't sell or share data with hospitals, trusts, or managers.

Is Shiftlyx an NHS app?

No. Shiftlyx is built independently by people who've worked shifts. It's a personal tool, not an NHS product. We don't replace HealthRoster, Allocate, or any trust system.

Is this replacing the hospital rota system?

Not at all. Your trust still manages your official schedule. Shiftlyx helps you plan around it — spotting fatigue risks, finding better patterns, coordinating with home life.

How much does it cost?

The core Shiftlyx app is free forever — fatigue score, shift planner, and recovery coach included. Premium unlocks AI Voice Planner, fatigue intelligence, annual leave optimiser, income forecasting, and more. £3.99/month or £18.99/year with the Day One Annual plan — 60% off. New users get a free 1-month trial of Premium. That's less than one NHS parking ticket for a full year of smarter shifts.

I'm not a nurse. Can I still use it?

Yes. Shiftlyx is built for healthcare workers first — paramedics, midwives, HCAs, theatre staff. If you work shifts in the NHS, it's for you. Other sectors coming later.

Do I need to invite my employer or colleagues?

No. Shiftlyx is personal. You can use it entirely alone. Partner Sync (Premium) is optional and only with people you choose.

Will it tell me not to work a shift?

No. Shiftlyx never blocks you or tells you what to do. It shows you the fatigue impact of each option. The decision is always yours. We advise, never authorise.

Does it work with my trust's rostering system?

Not directly — we don't integrate with HealthRoster or similar tools. But you can snap or enter your rota in seconds. The format is simple and consistent.

I work nights. Does this tool get that?

Yes. Night shifts are treated distinctly — circadian disruption is one of the four fatigue dimensions. Recovery Coach is silent after nights. The whole app understands night work.

Short Turnaround Shifts: The 11-Hour Gap Nobody Talks About

When your shift finishes at 9pm and you start again at 8am the next morning, you have an 11-hour gap. But that is not 11 hours of rest. By the time you commute home, wind down, sleep, wake, shower, eat, and commute back, you have maybe 6 hours of actual sleep.

That is not enough for recovery.

What the Research Says

A 2020 study in BMJ Open looked at the relationship between short recovery intervals and patient safety outcomes. Nurses with less than 11 hours between shifts were significantly more likely to report:

Making medication errors (odds increased by 14 percent)

Involvement in near-miss incidents (odds increased by 22 percent)

Drowsy driving on the commute home

Why 11 Hours Is Not Enough

The working time regulations set 11 consecutive hours as the minimum rest period in 24. But rest and recovery are different. Recovery requires:

**Sufficient sleep duration:** At least 7 hours for most adults

**Sleep continuity:** Uninterrupted 90-minute sleep cycles

**Circadian alignment:** Sleeping when your body is biologically prepared

**Active recovery:** Time for eating, hydration, and mental decompression

An 11-hour gap starting at 9pm might give you 6.5 hours of sleep. The same gap starting at 11pm after a late shift might give you 5 hours or less.

Shiftlyx Flags These Automatically

The Shiftlyx fatigue engine identifies every shift pair where the gap falls below your personal recovery threshold. The short recovery dimension of your Fatigue Score tracks the cumulative impact. When your rota includes three or more short turnarounds in a week, the score adjusts accordingly.

The data is clear: these are the shifts where fatigue compounds faster than any other pattern. Shiftlyx makes them visible so you can plan around them.

**References:** BMJ Open, 2020; Working Time Regulations 1998 (UK).

Short Turnaround Shifts: The 11-Hour Gap Nobody Talks About