Mobility and Handling Equipment

Mobile hoists are floor-standing units on castors that can be moved between rooms and used wherever floor space permits. They require two carers for most transfers — one to operate the hoist and one to support the patient and guide the sling. Mobile hoists are practical for settings where multiple rooms need to share equipment, but require adequate floor space to manoeuvre, particularly under profiling beds.

Ceiling track hoists are fixed to overhead tracking systems installed in the ceiling of a room or bathroom. They allow transfers with minimal floor space, reduce physical effort for carers and can often be operated by a single carer for suitable patients. Ceiling hoists require professional installation and structural assessment of the ceiling but offer the most ergonomic and dignified transfer solution for patients who require regular hoisting.

For care homes and home care settings with multiple non-ambulant residents or patients, a combination of both types is often used. Contact our team for guidance on the most appropriate hoist configuration for your setting.

Sling selection must be based on a formal patient assessment carried out by a competent person — typically an occupational therapist or a trained manual handling advisor. Key factors include:

Sling type: universal or divided leg slings are the most common. Hammock slings provide more support for patients with limited trunk control. Toileting slings allow access for personal care. Standing slings support patients with some weight-bearing ability. Amputee slings are designed for patients with lower limb amputations.

Size: slings are available in small, medium, large and extra-large. The correct size is critical — an undersized sling can cause injury or discomfort, while an oversized sling may not provide adequate support.

Compatibility: slings must be compatible with the specific hoist model in use. Most manufacturers produce slings specifically designed for their hoist spreader bars and loop configurations. Using an incompatible sling is a significant safety risk and may void the hoist warranty.

Safe working load: both the sling and the hoist must have a safe working load that exceeds the patient's weight, including a safety margin.

Slings are single-patient items in clinical settings and should not be shared between patients. Contact our team for guidance on sling selection for specific clinical scenarios.

Patient hoisting is governed by several pieces of UK legislation and guidance:

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require employers to avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable and to assess and reduce risk where it cannot be avoided. Hoisting is a key risk reduction strategy for transfers of dependent patients.

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) apply to all lifting equipment used to lift people, including patient hoists. LOLER requires that hoists and slings are thoroughly examined by a competent person at least every six months. Records of thorough examinations must be retained.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) require that all work equipment including hoists is maintained in a safe condition and that employees are adequately trained in its use.

All staff involved in patient hoisting must receive documented training before operating a hoist independently. Solo hoisting of patients is generally not recommended unless a formal risk assessment has determined it is safe for the specific patient and environment.

Commodes are available in several configurations to suit different patient needs and care environments:

Fixed-height commodes are the simplest and most economical option. They are suitable for patients who can stand independently or with minimal assistance to transfer.

Height-adjustable commodes allow the seat height to be set to match the patient's leg length, facilitating a safer and more comfortable transfer.

Drop-arm commodes have a removable or fold-down armrest on one or both sides, allowing a lateral transfer from a wheelchair or bed without the patient needing to stand fully.

Shower commodes are constructed from waterproof materials and can be used directly over a shower drain or wet room floor, allowing personal hygiene and toileting in a single session. They are particularly valuable for patients with complex care needs who are unable to transfer between a commode and shower chair.

Bariatric commodes are reinforced to support higher patient weights, typically rated to 250kg or above.

A standing aid is a device that assists patients with some weight-bearing ability to move from sitting to standing and to transfer between surfaces such as a chair, toilet or bed with reduced assistance from carers.

Active standing aids (sometimes called stand-aids or standaids) require the patient to contribute to the standing movement. The patient holds handle bars and leans forward while the device supports their weight as they rise. They are suitable for patients who can bear weight through their legs but lack the strength or balance to stand independently.

Passive standing aids (powered stand-and-raise hoists) use a powered mechanism to raise the patient from sitting to standing. They are used for patients with very limited weight-bearing ability who still benefit clinically from the standing position.

Standing aids must not be used for patients who are completely unable to bear weight through their legs — a full hoist is required in these cases. Suitability must be assessed by an occupational therapist or physiotherapist before use.

Several weighing options exist for patients with limited mobility:

Chair scales incorporate a weighing platform into a chair, allowing patients who can be safely transferred to a seated position to be weighed without standing. They are widely used in outpatient clinics, dialysis units, care homes and GP practices.

Wheelchair scales are flat platform scales with a low-profile ramp that allow a patient to be weighed while remaining in their wheelchair. The tare function subtracts the wheelchair weight to give the patient's net weight.

Hoist scales are integrated into or attached to a mobile hoist, allowing the patient's weight to be measured during a routine transfer without any additional handling. They are the most practical option for bed-bound or highly dependent patients.

Bed weighing systems incorporate load cells into a profiling bed frame to enable continuous or on-demand weighing without any patient movement at all.

Accurate patient weighing is clinically important for medication dosing, nutritional assessment and fluid balance monitoring. Contact our team to discuss the most appropriate weighing solution for your patient population.

Self-propelled wheelchairs have large rear wheels with hand rims, allowing the user to propel themselves independently. They are appropriate for users with sufficient upper limb strength and coordination to self-propel over the distances and surfaces they need to cover.

Attendant-propelled wheelchairs (transit wheelchairs) have four smaller wheels and are designed to be pushed by a carer. They are lighter and more compact than self-propelled chairs, making them easier to transport in a car. They are appropriate for patients who are unable to self-propel due to weakness, cognitive impairment or the nature of their condition.

Powered wheelchairs are motorised and controlled by the user via a joystick or alternative input device. They are appropriate for users who cannot self-propel but have the cognitive ability and control to operate a powered device safely.

Wheelchair prescription for long-term use should be carried out by a qualified occupational therapist or physiotherapist to ensure the most appropriate chair, size and configuration for the individual user's needs and environment.

Yes. Selfimed UK supplies care homes, nursing homes, NHS Trusts, community equipment services, hospices and home care providers. We accept purchase orders and provide full VAT invoices, delivery documentation and product certification.

For volume orders or full ward or care home fit-outs, contact our team for a quotation. We can advise on product selection, arrange delivery and, for certain products, provide installation or assembly services depending on your location.

UKCA and CE declarations of conformity, LOLER documentation and IFUs are available for all products we supply to support your compliance and procurement requirements.

Yes. A wide range of mobility and disability aids — including wheelchairs, hoists, commodes, standing aids and related equipment — are eligible for VAT Relief or zero-rating under Group 12 of Schedule 8 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994, when purchased by an individual with a qualifying chronic illness or disability for personal or domestic use.

For individually purchased mobility equipment, tick the VAT Relief declaration at checkout to apply the 20% reduction. The declaration must be truthful — making a false declaration is a criminal offence under UK law.

For institutional purchases by care homes, NHS Trusts or charities, separate VAT provisions may apply. Contact our team before placing a large order to confirm the correct VAT treatment and receive a quotation with the appropriate VAT status applied.