Advice | Sep 17, 2026 | No Comments |
MHRA Safety Alert for Patient Hoists
MHRA issues national safety alert over risk of death and serious harm from patient hoists
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a National Patient Safety Alert covering all types of patient hoists and slings, after a review of incident data found a persistent pattern of falls during transfers that have caused deaths and serious injuries across hospitals, care homes and people’s own homes.
The alert, published on 16 September 2026, sets out new mandatory actions for anyone responsible for buying, using or maintaining hoisting equipment, and its findings are relevant well beyond hospital wards, since hoists and slings are also relied on every day by disabled and older people, and by the family and paid carers who support them, in ordinary domestic settings.
At a glance
Alert reference: NatPSA/2026/005/MHRA
Issued: 16 September 2026
Deadline for organisations to complete required actions: 16 September 2027
The problem: an average of two deaths a year since 2015 – 22 fatal incidents between January 2015 and December 2025 – involving falls from hoists or slings during transfers and repositioning
Who it applies to: hospitals, community healthcare organisations, care homes, nursing homes, home care services and equipment providers, though the safe practices it describes apply equally to informal and family carers
What went wrong
The MHRA’s review found that serious incidents are not confined to a particular manufacturer or type of hoist. Instead, they tend to follow a small number of recurring, preventable causes: load-bearing components that have come detached, slings used with hoists they were never designed to be compatible with, sling loops that were damaged or worn, checks skipped before a lift, servicing and inspections that had fallen overdue, slings that were the wrong size for the person being moved, and staff or carers who had not been trained or assessed as competent to use the equipment safely.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said:
“Patient hoists are vital devices that support safe and dignified care, but when used incorrectly or not properly maintained, consequences can be devastating.”
What organisations must now do
The alert requires organisations with responsibility for hoists to put in place, by 16 September 2027:
• A standardised pre-use check with a deliberate “pause and check” step before a person is fully lifted, so that any fault is caught before weight goes onto the sling.
• Clear documentation of which slings are compatible with which hoists, including a proper risk assessment wherever third-party or mixed-brand combinations are used, rather than assuming compatibility.
• A full device inventory that records maintenance history and inspection dates. A thorough examination of every hoist at least every six months, in line with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER).
• Role-appropriate training that is refreshed regularly and covers both the manufacturer’s instructions and how to spot a developing hazard.
What it means if you or someone you support is hoisted at home
Most of this alert is written for care organisations, but the underlying message applies just as much in a domestic setting, where a family carer or personal assistant may be doing everything an NHS or care home team would do – without necessarily having had the same training or access to servicing records.
If a hoist is used in your home, it is worth asking a few practical questions:
• Is the sling actually the one specified for this hoist, or has it been swapped in from elsewhere?
• Has the hoist had its six-monthly LOLER inspection, and do you know who to contact if it’s overdue?
• Has whoever operates the hoist (including you, if that’s the case) had proper training and a chance to practise the “pause and check” step before a lift takes weight?
• And do you know how to report a fault or a near-miss, rather than working around it?
Reporting safety concerns
Concerns about a specific device, including a fault, near-miss or incident, can be reported to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme (external link will open in a new browser tab or window). Our existing Risk Assessment & Hoist FAQ and guide to manual handling legislation cover the practical basics of safe hoisting in more detail.
The full alert, including the complete list of required actions for organisations, is available on the gov.uk National Patient Safety Alert page (external link will open in a new browser tab or window), and the MHRA’s announcement is here: MHRA sets out steps to prevent avoidable harm from patient hoists (external link will open in a new browser tab or window).
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Further reading and resources
Hoists for Transferring People
Risk Assessment & Hoist FAQ
LOLER and patient handling
Manual Handling Legislation
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