A patient positioning element is provided for fitting to a patient support device having a base portion and a patient support deck which may support a mattress with a sheet thereon. The patient positioning element includes at least one fixing element for fixing to a patient support deck, a bar element for holding a sheet in position and at least one connector element transverse to the bar for connecting or coupling the bar to the fixing element. The connector element is adjustable such that the bar may take up a first storage position adjacent or near the fixing element and a second deployed position adjacent or near the upper surface of a mattress. The patient support deck is moveable upwardly and downwardly relative to the base portion. The patient is repositioned by a method comprising: locating the head end of a sheet on the mattress under a bar at the head end of the patient support device and adjacent the head end of the mattress; fixing the head end of the sheet to the head board or head frame; and then lowering the head end of the patient support deck such that the sheet is pulled under the bar and then upwards and away from the head end of the mattress.