Hoists

Moving and handling equipment refers to any device or aid used to safely support, lift, reposition, or transfer a person who has limited mobility. This category of equipment is widely used in homes, care homes, hospitals, and rehabilitation settings across the UK. It covers everything from mobile hoists and gantry hoists to stand aids, transfer aids such as the Sara Stedy, transfer boards, slide sheets, slings, and emergency lifting cushions.
The primary goal of this equipment is to reduce the physical strain on carers while keeping the person being moved safe, comfortable, and as independent as possible. Whether someone needs help moving from a bed to a chair or carrying out everyday tasks that require support, there is a piece of moving and handling equipment designed to help.
Not sure which equipment is right for your situation? Give our friendly team a call on 0800 111 6234 and we will talk you through the options.

There is a wide range of moving and handling equipment available to suit different levels of mobility and care needs. Common examples include:
• Mobile patient hoists, also known as floor hoists, which lift a person fully from a seated or lying position and transfer them to another location.
• Gantry and track hoists, which are freestanding or overhead systems ideal for transfers in a single room.
• Stand aids and transfer aids, designed for people who have some weight-bearing ability but need support moving from sitting to standing.
• Emergency lifting cushions, which are inflatable devices used to help someone get up safely after a fall.
• Hoist slings, which are used in combination with a hoist to support the user during a lift.
• Transfer boards and slide sheets, which reduce friction during lateral transfers and help both the user and the carer.
The right equipment depends on the individual's level of mobility, the environment, and how much support they require.
If you are unsure which type of moving and handling equipment best suits your needs, our knowledgeable team is here to help. Call us on 0800 111 6234 today.

There is a broad range of moving and handling equipment specifically suited to elderly people who may have reduced strength, balance, or mobility.
For those who can bear some of their own weight, stand aids and transfer aids such as the Sara Stedy are popular choices as they encourage active participation and help maintain independence. For elderly people who are unable to reposition themselves at all, a mobile patient hoist with an appropriate sling provides a safe and dignified way to carry out transfers from a bed, chair, or commode.
Many families caring for an elderly relative at home choose to hire this type of equipment on a short-term or long-term basis rather than committing to a purchase, which can be both practical and cost effective.
Whether you are caring for an elderly parent or a loved one at home, we can help you find the right solution. Call our team on 0800 111 6234 and we will guide you through the equipment available for hire.

Yes, you can hire a patient hoist for use at home, and it is one of the most popular types of moving and handling equipment we offer. A mobile hoist, sometimes called a floor hoist or patient hoist, is a battery-powered mechanical device on castor wheels that lifts a person using a compatible sling. It can transfer a person between their bed, a chair, a commode, or a wheelchair, making every day caring tasks significantly safer and less physically demanding for the person assisting.
Mobile hoist hire is a practical option if you need the equipment following a hospital discharge, during a period of recovery, or while you decide whether purchasing is the right long-term solution. Our hire mobile hoists are delivered, set up, and demonstrated by our highly trained team, so you can be confident you are using the equipment correctly from day one. Slings are also available for hire to accompany the hoist hire where required.
Ready to hire a patient mobile hoist or want to find out more about what is available? Call us now on 0800 111 6234.

A portable lifting hoist, also referred to as a lightweight portable hoist, is a compact and mobile version of a standard patient hoist. It is specifically designed to be easy to move, fold, and transport, making it ideal for use in smaller spaces such as narrow hallways or compact bathrooms, or for carers who need to move the hoist between rooms.
Portable lifting hoists are very well suited to disabled people and are used widely in private homes, care facilities, and while travelling. They work with a sling to lift the user fully, meaning they are appropriate for individuals with a wide range of mobility limitations, including those who have no weight-bearing ability at all.
Despite their compact design, portable hoists are built to safely support users of varying weights and body shapes, and many models can handle weights more than 180kg. Hiring a portable lifting hoist before committing to a purchase is a sensible approach that lets you assess whether it meets the needs of the person you are caring for in a real home environment.
Our team can help you identify the most suitable portable hoist for a disabled person's specific requirements. Give us a call on 0800 111 6234 and we will walk you through your options.

You can hire moving and handling equipment for as long as you need it. We offer both short-term and long-term hire options to suit your circumstances. Whether you need moving and handling equipment for a few weeks following a hospital discharge, for a family member's visit, or as an ongoing solution at home, we can accommodate your requirements. Our hire arrangements operate on an ongoing basis, which means you are not locked into a fixed contract. You simply give us notice when you no longer need the equipment and we will arrange collection.
This flexibility makes hiring a practical and cost-effective route for many families and carers, particularly when it is not yet clear how long the equipment will be needed. If at any point during the hire period you decide you would like to purchase the equipment outright, we can discuss that option with you too.
To discuss hire durations and find the most suitable arrangement for your situation, call our team on 0800 111 6234.

We provide a user manual with all hire equipment, and our delivery drivers will set up the equipment and demonstrate how it works when they bring it to your home. However, we do not provide formal moving and handling training as part of the hire service. We ask that anyone hiring a patient hoist, stand aid, or similar equipment has a reasonable level of familiarity with how to operate it safely, or has sought guidance from their healthcare team in advance.
If you have not used a patient hoist before, we strongly recommend speaking with your GP, occupational therapist, or district nurse before you hire, as they can advise on the most appropriate equipment and technique for your specific situation. Safe use of moving and handling equipment protects both the person being moved and the carer carrying out the transfer, so it is worth taking the time to get it right from the outset.
If you have any questions about whether a piece of equipment is suitable for your needs, our team is happy to talk it through with you. Call us on 0800 111 6234.

The difference between a mobile hoist and a gantry hoist is that a mobile hoist is a floor-based unit on wheels that the carer moves around the room to carry out a transfer. It requires open floor space to manoeuvre, and the carer needs to guide the hoist between surfaces such as a bed and a chair.
A gantry hoist, on the other hand, is a freestanding overhead frame with a track-mounted lifting unit that travels along the rail. As the hoist moves along a fixed overhead track rather than across the floor, it requires less physical effort from the carer and takes up very little floor space during use. Gantry hoists are an excellent solution for situations where a permanent ceiling track is not in place, but a ceiling-level transfer system is needed, for example in a bedroom or bathroom at home.
Both types are available to hire, and each has its advantages depending on the layout of your home and the needs of the person being transferred.
Call our friendly team on 0800 111 6234 to place your order today.

Yes, you can hire moving and handling equipment for a holiday. This is one of the most common reasons people come to us for hire. Whether you are visiting family, staying in a holiday cottage, or travelling to a care facility for a short break, we can arrange delivery of the moving and handling equipment you need to wherever you are staying in the UK. We understand that needing a hoist, stand aid, or other care equipment does not stop when you are away from home, and the last thing you want is for a lack of equipment to prevent a trip from going ahead.
Our hire service is flexible and nationwide, which means you can arrange for equipment to be delivered to your holiday address and collected again when you leave. Whether you need a mobile hoist, a gantry hoist, a transfer aid, we can usually accommodate short stays as well as longer visits.
Our team can help guide you on the most suitable equipment for the accommodation you will be using, so it is worth giving us a call before you travel to make sure everything is in place.
Planning a trip and need moving and handling equipment at your destination? Call us on 0800 111 6234.

Patient hoist hire starts from £99.50 per week. However, the final cost can vary depending on the type of hoist you need, the length of the hire, and whether any accessories such as slings are included. Longer-term hire may be available at a reduced weekly rate, while gantry hoists and more specialist equipment are usually priced higher because of their size and setup requirements. If the person using the equipment has a qualifying long-term illness or disability, you may also be eligible for VAT relief on the hire cost, which removes the 20% VAT and can reduce the overall price.
To receive a quote for patient hoist hire, call our team on 0800 111 6234.

In some cases, you can get moving and handling equipment through the NHS. If a healthcare professional such as an occupational therapist, district nurse, or social worker is involved in the care of the person who needs the equipment, they may be able to arrange provision through the NHS community equipment service or via your local council. Equipment provided through this route is usually free on a loan basis for as long as it is needed, and may include hoists, stand aids, transfer boards, and slide sheets depending on an individual's assessed needs. However, there are some important limitations to be aware of. The assessment and referral process can take time, which is not always ideal if the need for equipment is urgent, for example following a hospital discharge or an injury. The range of equipment available through the NHS may also be more limited than what you can access privately, and it may not be possible to obtain more specialist or portable equipment such as a lightweight travel hoist through this route. Hiring directly also gives you the flexibility to choose the equipment most suited to your home environment and care needs, with same-day or next-day delivery available if the situation is urgent. Many families choose to hire privately while waiting for an NHS assessment to complete, or because the equipment they need is not covered through statutory provision.
If you need moving and handling equipment quickly and cannot wait for an NHS referral, call us on 0800 111 6234. We offer fast nationwide delivery and can often have equipment with you within 24 hours.

A portable gantry hoist is a freestanding overhead lifting system that does not require any permanent ceiling or wall installation. It consists of a metal frame that stands independently in a room, with a track running across the top from which a powered lifting unit travels. The person being transferred is placed in a sling, lifted vertically by the powered unit, and then moved along the track from one position to another, such as from a bed to a wheelchair or a commode.
As the gantry hoist is freestanding, it can be assembled and moved between rooms, making it a practical solution for home use where drilling into ceilings or structural work is not possible or desirable. It is particularly well suited to bedrooms where transfers between a bed and a chair are needed regularly.
Compared to a mobile floor hoist, a gantry hoist requires less floor space during use and places less physical demand on the carer during the transfer, as there is no heavy chassis to manoeuvre around the room. Gantry hoists can support users of varying weights and are available with a range of lifting capacities. Hiring a gantry hoist is a good option if you want the benefits of an overhead system without committing to a permanent installation, or if you need it on a temporary basis during a recovery period.
To find out whether a portable gantry hoist is the right solution for your home and care needs, call us on 0800 111 6234. Our team is happy to walk you through the options.