Trying to source and buy a second cpap or apap in the uk

I'm currently the happy user of a Resmed S9 escape on the NHS. i am really feeling the benefit every day and so is my wife. I travel a lot and am finding it frustrating having to constantly carry my S9 when I fly. Plus all of the plugging and unplugging, furniture shifting. (first world problem I know). I spoke to my doctor about a second machine and, whilst the NHS will not provide one or service a second machine, they are happy for me to buy one.
So...Buying a Cpap or Apap in the UK seems limited and costly. I really like my S9 and would be happy to buy another Resmed and would love a shiny new S10 auto set but don't really want to pay £770 out of my own pocket.
Anyone got any advice in the uk on:
1. suppliers that stock Resmed and what should I expect to pay
2. Are Resmed the best? I have no comparisons as only used the S9 escape
3. I really like the simplicity of the S9 escape but also like the idea of being able to use the data to see how well I am doing and also like the idea of an apap. Is there any benefit in having either or both.
Lots of questions but the main one is finding a good supplier in the uk.
All advice appreciated. Thanks

I'm sorry to say there aren't many options other than buying new, and from the manufacturers.

1. For one thing, the diagnosis of sleep apnea and uptake of treatment per 1,000 of population in the UK is far behind that in, say, the US. At the moment, there are proportionately fewer users.

2. For another thing, most patients with sleep apnea in the UK are being treated by the NHS. There are some people going to private doctors and receiving private treatment at private clinics or private hospitals - I can't give you exact figures without checking, but my sense is: it's no more than 10 per cent of the population.

3. And as you know, the machine you have has been given to you on a 'long-term loan' basis. It's yours for as long as you need it. If it breaks down, the NHS will replace it - usually within two days. And when it eventually wears out, they will long-term loan you a new one.

And if you decide to discontinue treatment, your sleep service unit would like it back - so they can give it to someone else (on the same long-term loan basis).

4. That means, because of #1, #2, and #3 taken together, there are far fewer second-hand machines 'in the market' in the UK.

5. There is one firm I know of that is based in the UK and which sells XPAP machines - Eu-PAP, aka Intus Healthcare. But you might note that: (a) they're in the business of selling new machines and not second-hand ones; (b) they don't sell them any cheaper than the manufacturer's-to-individual-buyer price; and (c) they do not sell ResMed.

6. As to finding a second-hand seller from that 10 per cent cohort of private users - in my opinion, you will have your work cut out finding them. There are two or three sleep apnea forums which are based in the UK - and in my opinion, not one of them is any good. They certainly don't serve up the wealth of knowledge and experience you get here.

And from what I have seen, they reflect that much smaller user base. So: fewer machines for possible re-sale.

7. Which leaves eBay. And there, you take your chances.

8. It's just my opinion, but if you value your health, and you like the ResMed, then just find the money. The lifetime of a ResMed Auto or Philips Respironics auto is easily 10,000 hours - or roughly four and a half years at six hours a night. Divide the price by that number of days, and how expensive is it?

9. I would also add that: if the main purpose of this second machine is to have it always ready-packed in a 'go bag', then shouldn't you want the guarantee of a brand-new machine with low hours in that travel bag?

What are you going to do if, on your travels or your business trip, the second-hand machine you bought with lots of hours on it suddenly throws a wobbly? You pay for travel insurance (I hope) - why not buy some peace-of-mind insurance?

10. One more thing: that price you quoted seems high. Does it by any chance include VAT? (for US readers: Value Added Tax - a kind of sales tax, but applied nationally, rather than on a state-by-state basis).

You should know that all XPAP and similar health-care products are exempt from VAT. All you have to do is ask, say, ResMed or Philips Respironics for the appropriate form to fill in, and you don't have to pay it.

Definite benefit to Apap because while it can also be used in Cpap mode (some people do better there), Cpaps don't do Apap, and you do want it so you can titrate yourself better, understand what's going on... which is where data comes in (Sleepyhead's become 'the' standard for software) and does Macs as well.

Thank you for such a detailed and helpful reply. I guess I felt this was the case but to good to get another voice.

To clarify, I am looking to buy a second machine to leave in another location ( hotel away from home) rather than a second hand machine.

To be honest I could be biased to Resmed as I have no experience of other machines and maybe I should buy a different machine. The problem being it is an expensive risk to get it wrong.

The price quoted was direct from Resmed and had no mention of Vat. I will go back to them and check.

Bottom line is I will be buying a second new machine and I want to get the best I can for the best price. Based on your comment I am leaning to go with Resmed direct.

Does anyone have any opinion on if I should go for it and buy the Airsense 10 Apap or stick with the S9 apap or even just the S9 elite.

Many thanks

Thanks Julie. I am a bit of a data nut and was disappointed when I researched the S9 escape just records if the machine was used or not.

All advise is helping me make a more informed decision.

Cheers

You might ask Grayghost if he'd be willing to ship to you. This unit would cost you 316.86 pounds (less additional shipping/ins. fees) If it's still available.... ~ viewtopic.php?f=1&t=111504&p=1070539&hi ... d#p1070539

Does NIH check your usage now?
Since the Escape is technically a "loaner", will they want it back if you only use it when at the "country house"?

Well my NHS technician at my annual review tells me they do but I cannot be sure.

A guy takes my machine away for 10 minutes and then returns with nothing more than a nod to the technician as he hands me back the machine.

Thanks for the suggestion with grayghost4. I've sent a pm and hope he replies.

Anyone else who knows of any good source for Resmed Apap uk or other (that would ship to uk) appreciated.

To Dirk Gently:

Gasper62 has suggested buying a machine - whichever model you decide on - from Grayghost, and have it shipped, or sent, to you. The problem might be UK Customs. It used to be that anything technical or electronic not manufactured in the UK or the Euro-zone would attract import duty - of 28 per cent.

I suggest that, before you do go down that route, you check with HM Customs if that still applies.

I understand the advantage of leaving stuff at another location. At one point in 1989, I was flying back and forth from London to Los Angeles/ San Diego six times a year. And it was easier for me to leave a couple of suitcases-full of clothes in a friend's closet, than drag them thru the airports each time.

Thanks for the HMC comments. I will try to find out next week.

I will also raise a quick question on the forum to see if anyone has any experience of import duty on a cpap too.

I have decided to go with the Airsense Auto with grayghost4. Should be a good deal depending on the import duty. Fingers crossed

Thanks everyone for the comments. I am really impressed with the level of support and information. Such an active and helpful forum. Cheers all.

Got my machine from Grayghost4 (I am in the UK) and I don't think I was charged any import duty, maybe I got lucky. I think being 2nd hand and also medical equipment had helped get it through, if it was a games console I imagine I would be less lucky. Make sure you check that the power supply is switching by the way, most are these days, especially cpap which is portable.

Thanks Blizzarduk. Sounds encouraging.

Blizzarduk: Could you tell if they open the box to check what it was ?

Hi Grayghost4. no they didn't open it. There was no "customs opened" tape on it at all. So if they did open it then they didn't make it known.

rick blaine wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 16, 2016 3:46 pm

To Dirk Gently:

Gasper62 has suggested buying a machine - whichever model you decide on - from Grayghost, and have it shipped, or sent, to you. The problem might be UK Customs. It used to be that anything technical or electronic not manufactured in the UK or the Euro-zone would attract import duty - of 28 per cent.

I suggest that, before you do go down that route, you check with HM Customs if that still applies.

I understand the advantage of leaving stuff at another location. At one point in 1989, I was flying back and forth from London to Los Angeles/ San Diego six times a year. And it was easier for me to leave a couple of suitcases-full of clothes in a friend's closet, than drag them thru the airports each time.

Hi Rick, do you have any more recent experience of importing a CPAP from USA by courier shipping?

Mark.