New National Patient Safety Alert: What It Means for Patient Hoists and Slings
On 16 September 2026, a new National Patient Safety Alert was issued highlighting the ongoing risk of death and serious harm associated with falls from patient hoists and slings during transfers and repositioning. The alert applies to organisations across acute and community healthcare, care homes, nursing homes, services supporting people in their own homes, and equipment providers, making it relevant to anyone responsible for the use, purchase, maintenance or management of patient hoists and slings.
While hoists and slings are an important part of moving and handling support, the alert demonstrates that safe use depends on much more than simply having the right equipment available. The condition of the equipment, the compatibility between the hoist and sling, how the sling is fitted and attached, the quality of pre-use checks, the maintenance and examination programme, and the competence of the people using the equipment all have a role to play in reducing risk.
Why has the alert been issued?
The National Patient Safety Alert follows a review of recent incidents and wider surveillance data relating to falls from hoists and slings. The alert reports that fatal and serious harm continues to occur during transfers and repositioning, with an average of two deaths per year since 2015. Importantly, the issue is not limited to a particular manufacturer, hoist model or care setting, meaning organisations should consider their own equipment, processes and practices rather than assuming that the risk only applies elsewhere.
Between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2025, the MHRA received 22 reports of incidents involving a fatal outcome during patient transfers, with incidents occurring in acute hospitals, care homes and people’s own homes. Investigations into these incidents identified recurring contributing factors, suggesting that existing guidance has not always been implemented consistently and systematically.
This makes the alert particularly important for organisations that may have large and varied equipment estates, multiple care environments or a workforce made up of people with different levels of experience and training.
What are the risks organisations need to consider?
The alert identifies a number of factors that have contributed to fatal and serious falls from hoists. These include detachment at critical load-bearing interfaces, such as spreader bar hooks, clips, carabiners and other fasteners, particularly where components are missing, worn, damaged or incorrectly assembled. It also highlights the risk associated with incompatible hoist and sling combinations, including the use of third-party slings that have not been validated for the specific hoist.
Incorrectly fitted or seated sling loops are another area of concern, as are inadequate pre-use checks that fail to identify unsafe equipment before it is used. The alert also draws attention to overdue maintenance, servicing and LOLER examinations, as well as continued use of equipment or components beyond their indicated service life without an appropriate risk assessment. Choosing the wrong size or type of sling for the individual and insufficient staff training or competency can introduce further risk.
Taken together, these points demonstrate why safe hoisting needs to be considered as a complete process rather than a single activity. Having a hoist that has been serviced does not, by itself, guarantee that the sling being used is appropriate, that it has been fitted correctly or that the person carrying out the transfer understands how to identify an unsafe situation.
Pre-use checks remain a critical part of safe hoisting
One of the actions within the alert is for organisations to ensure that standardised pre-use checks are in place and completed for all hoists and slings, in line with the manufacturer’s Instructions for Use. These checks should be capable of identifying missing components, worn or damaged carabiners and retaining features, damaged or incorrectly seated sling loops and other signs of damage or degradation.
The alert also introduces an important pause-and-check step. Once the sling is taut and the person’s weight is partially supported, staff should pause before the person is fully lifted to confirm that all attachment points are secure. This is particularly important for loop-type sling attachments, where an incorrectly seated loop may not necessarily be obvious before the sling is placed under load.
If a hoist or sling is found to have missing, worn, damaged or incorrectly assembled components, it should be immediately removed from service, clearly marked as DO NOT USE, and reported through the appropriate route within the organisation.
Are your hoists and slings compatible?
Another key action is the review and documentation of hoist and sling combinations across an organisation. Compatibility should be confirmed using the manufacturer’s Instructions for Use, and where compatibility cannot be confirmed, the alert states that a risk assessment supported by appropriate technical evidence should be completed by a qualified person. Organisations should also maintain a local register of approved combinations that is accessible to relevant staff.
This is particularly relevant where equipment has been purchased from different suppliers over time, where third-party slings are being used or where equipment is moved between different locations. The alert specifically states that, in exceptional circumstances where third-party slings are used, compatibility must be verified by an appropriately qualified person and supported by evidence.
Compatibility should also be considered alongside the individual being transferred. The alert states that patient-specific risk assessments should confirm that the hoist and sling combination is appropriate, with assessments repeated when the equipment combination or the person’s condition changes, including changes to weight, posture, tone, cognition, pain, sitting balance, ability to participate in transfers or tolerance of hoisting.
Do you know what equipment you have?
For organisations managing a large number of hoists and slings, maintaining an accurate equipment inventory is an important part of understanding and managing risk. The alert requires organisations to review their medical device management systems to ensure that patient hoists and slings, including equipment provided in community settings, are identified and recorded. These records should include maintenance, LOLER examination and device replacement plans.
The supporting information goes further, stating that records should include details such as the manufacturer, make and model, lot number, location, last service date, end-of-service-life date, last LOLER examination and the next service and LOLER examination due dates.
For organisations with equipment spread across multiple wards, departments, care homes or community locations, having this information readily available can make it considerably easier to identify equipment that requires attention and plan for future replacement.
Maintenance and LOLER examinations are not optional extras
The alert reinforces the importance of maintaining, servicing and examining hoists in accordance with LOLER and the manufacturer’s Instructions for Use, with records kept up to date. Any hoist with an overdue examination or unresolved defect should be removed from service, while slings should be checked regularly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
It is also important to recognise that pre-use checks are not a replacement for a structured maintenance programme or statutory examination. The alert states that, under LOLER, thorough examination by a competent person is required at intervals not exceeding six months, and where maintenance or servicing is outsourced, the organisation remains responsible for monitoring whether the required schedule is being followed.
This is where having clear, reliable equipment records becomes particularly valuable. Knowing when equipment was last serviced, when its LOLER examination is due and when it may be approaching the end of its service life allows organisations to move from reacting to individual problems towards managing their equipment proactively.
Training and competency matter just as much as the equipment
Even well-maintained equipment can introduce risk if the people using it have not received appropriate training or do not have the competency required for the specific hoist and sling types in use. The alert therefore requires organisations to ensure that staff receive role-appropriate training and regular updates covering areas such as manufacturer instructions, pre-use checks, hoist and sling compatibility, correct fitting and attachment, identification of unsafe equipment and when to stop, escalate and report concerns.
Training records should also be maintained so that organisations can demonstrate who has received relevant training and ensure that staff are appropriately supported as equipment, processes or individual care requirements change.
For organisations using a range of hoist and sling types, generic moving and handling training may not be enough on its own. The alert states that training should be relevant to the types of hoists, patient groups and care settings in which staff are working.
What should organisations do now?
The National Patient Safety Alert sets out actions that should begin as soon as possible and be completed by 16 September 2027. This gives organisations time to review their current arrangements, but it also provides a clear opportunity to identify gaps before they become a problem.
For many organisations, a sensible starting point will be to understand the current state of their equipment estate and identify whether all hoists and slings are accounted for, whether servicing and LOLER examinations are up to date, whether equipment combinations have been checked for compatibility and whether staff have the appropriate training and competency for the equipment they use.
It is also worth looking at how this information is managed day to day. If equipment records are spread across different systems or teams, or if it is difficult to identify which equipment is due for examination, repair or replacement, the alert provides a useful reason to review whether the current approach gives staff and managers the visibility they need.
How Medaco can help
At Medaco, we understand that managing moving and handling equipment is about more than simply arranging a service when something goes wrong. It involves understanding the equipment you have, keeping it maintained, ensuring the right records are available and supporting the people responsible for using it.
Our service and maintenance support can help organisations manage their hoist estates through servicing, LOLER examinations, repairs and equipment management, while providing greater visibility of equipment condition and future replacement requirements.
The new National Patient Safety Alert is an important reminder that safe hoisting relies on several things working together, from the initial selection and compatibility of equipment through to pre-use checks, maintenance, examination, training and ongoing review.
If the alert has prompted you to look more closely at your own hoists, slings or equipment management processes, the Medaco team can help you understand where to start and what areas may need further attention.
For more information about Medaco’s moving and handling services, speak to our team today.
