National Patient Safety Alert: Patient hoists and slings (all types): risk of death and serious harm from falls (NatPSA/2026/005/MHRA)

Fatal and serious harm continues to occur when patients fall from hoists or slings during transfers and repositioning. A review of recent incidents with a fatal outcome and wider surveillance data shows an average of two deaths per year since 2015.

This alert is for action by: All those responsible for the use, purchase and/or maintenance of patient hoists, working within all acute and community healthcare organisations, care homes, nursing homes and care services supporting people in their own homes, and their equipment providers.

This is a safety critical and complex National Patient Safety Alert. Implementation should be coordinated by an executive leader
(or equivalent senior accountable person, such as a registered manager or responsible induvial, in organisations without executive boards).

Fatal and serious harm continues to occur when patients fall from hoists or slings during transfers and repositioning. A review of recent incidents with a fatal outcome and wider surveillance data shows an average of two deaths per year since 2015. This is not confined to any manufacturer, model, or care setting. The most common causes of fatal and serious patient falls from hoists include: