Patient Handling Hub

Everything Independent Living has published on hoists, slings and safe patient handling, gathered in one place – for care professionals, family carers and disabled people themselves. Whether you’re choosing equipment, working through a risk assessment, or checking the latest safety guidance, start here.

Last updated: 19 September 2026

Start here

If you only read two things on this page, make it these: the current safety picture, and the foundational overview everything else builds on.

MHRA issues national safety alert over risk of death and serious harm from patient hoists – our coverage of the September 2026 National Patient Safety Alert (NatPSA/2026/005/MHRA), including what it means for home and family carers, not just care organisations.

Hoists for Transferring People – the essential overview of hoist types, how they’re assessed, and what to consider before choosing one.

Choosing equipment and background reading

Browse hoists, slings and related products in our Patient Handling product section, including ceiling hoists, mobile hoists, standing aids and beds from suppliers such as Arjo, Closomat, Innova and Oxford Healthcare.

A longer-standing PDF resource, Safe moving and handling guidance (external link will open in a new browser tab or window), is also available while we review whether its content is still current.

Bookmark this page – it will be kept up to date as new guidance and safety alerts are published. Click to return to top.

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Hoist Slings 2 comments

Hoists slings and harnesses Selecting the right hoist sling is as important as choosing the correct hoist, and equally requires careful, professional assessment to ensure that the person is properly [...]

Standing Transfer Aids 9 comments

If a person is able to bear some of their own weight for a short amount of time, there are various products to assist in transferring between bed, chair and [...]

Adverse incident reporting - Yellow card

Reporting Adverse Incidents 2 comments

Guidance on Reporting Adverse Incidents and Side Effects The Yellow Card scheme is the UK’s system for reporting suspected side effects to medicines and adverse incidents with medical devices. It [...]

Airospring PRO pressure care range 0 comments

Airospring PRO for care environments Airospring cushions were developed as the result of a six year project with the University of Bolton, and provide greater comfort and breathability than expensive [...]

Moving & Handling: It Takes Two? 11 comments

Is double handed care always necessary? Some interesting research came my way, on the subject of safe moving and handling. Undertaken by the University of Salford, the remit of the [...]

Declan Barry on reasons for double handed care

Single or double handed staff for hoisting? 15 comments

Declan Barry, moving and handling trainer, has extensive experience providing training to people working in the care industry. He is concerned about the reasons behind the continuing persistence of the [...]

Oxford Sling Guide Comments disabled

Recently updated, the Oxford sling guide Judging by the emails we receive regularly at Independent Living, sling selection is a subject that many people find confusing. Joerns Healthcare has produced [...]

Patient transfer platform Comments disabled

Orbital transfer platform for those who can weight bear to some extent The Orbital transfer platform has been designed to help transfer a person from one seated position to another, [...]

Manual Handling Legislation 8 comments

Manual handling is regulated by legislation: Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) This is the cornerstone of safe working practices, healthy environments and avoidance of accidents in [...]