New MHRA Hoist and Sling Safety Alert: What Care Providers Need to Know
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a new National Patient Safety Alert relating to patient hoists and slings, following continued reports of serious injuries and deaths caused by people falling during hoisting and repositioning.
The alert, NatPSA/2026/005/MHRA – Patient hoists and slings (all types): risk of death and serious harm from falls, was issued on 16 September 2026 and applies across healthcare and social care settings, including hospitals, care homes, nursing homes, community services and care delivered within people's own homes.
For organisations using patient hoists, this is an important opportunity to review not just the equipment being used, but the wider systems surrounding assessment, equipment compatibility, pre-use checks, maintenance and staff competence.
Why has this alert been issued?
According to the MHRA, between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2025 there were 22 reported incidents involving a fatal outcome during patient transfers.
These incidents were not limited to one particular manufacturer, model of hoist, type of sling or care environment.
Investigations repeatedly identified similar contributing factors. These included problems with sling attachments, damaged equipment, incompatible hoist and sling combinations, inadequate pre-use checks, incorrect sling selection, maintenance issues and gaps in staff training and competence.
This is important because many hoisting incidents are not caused by one single failure.
Safe hoisting relies on several parts of the system working together.
What does the MHRA alert require?
The alert identifies five key areas organisations should review:
Pre-use checks: Organisations should have standardised checks for hoists and slings that reflect the manufacturer's Instructions for Use (IFU).
Hoist and sling compatibility: Organisations should know which combinations of hoists, slings and accessories are approved for use together and be able to demonstrate how compatibility has been established.
Equipment management: Hoists and slings should be identifiable within an appropriate equipment management system, including equipment used within community settings.
Maintenance and LOLER: Hoists must continue to be appropriately maintained, serviced and thoroughly examined. Pre-use checks do not replace planned maintenance or statutory examinations.
Training and competence: Staff should receive training relevant to the equipment and sling systems they actually use, including fitting, attachment, pre-use checks, identification of unsafe equipment and appropriate escalation.
Organisations have been instructed to begin work as soon as possible, with the required actions completed by 16 September 2027.
The "Pause and Check" before lifting
One of the most significant practical messages from the alert is the emphasis on a pause-and-check step.
After the sling has been attached and the initial load has been taken, staff should pause before the person is completely lifted away from the supporting surface.
At this stage, the sling becomes taut and the person's weight is beginning to be supported by the hoist.
This gives staff an important opportunity to visually confirm that all sling attachment points remain correctly and securely attached before proceeding with the transfer.
This is particularly important when using loop-type sling attachments.
It is a simple principle, but one which could prevent a wrongly positioned loop or insecure attachment from developing into a serious incident.
A pre-use check is more than checking whether the hoist works
The alert also reinforces an important distinction.
A pre-use check should not simply consist of switching the hoist on and confirming that it moves.
Staff should be able to recognise potential problems with both the hoist and sling, including damaged or worn components, incorrectly seated attachments, missing parts, deterioration and other signs that the equipment may not be safe to use.
Where equipment is found to be damaged, incorrectly assembled or otherwise unsafe, the MHRA advises that it should be removed from service, clearly identified as DO NOT USE, and reported through the organisation's appropriate reporting system.
Can any sling be used with any hoist?
No — and this is another major focus of the alert.
Just because a sling can physically be attached to a hoist does not automatically mean that the combination is suitable or has been approved.
Compatibility should normally be established through the manufacturer's Instructions for Use.
Where third-party slings are being used, organisations may need to establish whether the manufacturer has approved or validated that particular combination.
In exceptional circumstances where this cannot be established through the manufacturer's information, the alert states that compatibility should be verified by an appropriately qualified person, supported by technical evidence and documented.
The alert also calls for organisations to maintain a local register of approved hoist and sling combinations that can be accessed by relevant staff.
Accessories matter too. Components such as spreader bars and weighing scales also need to be compatible with the equipment with which they are being used.
The person still needs to be assessed
Even where a hoist and sling are technically compatible, that does not automatically mean they are suitable for every individual.
The person-specific assessment remains essential.
Factors such as the person's weight, body shape, posture, muscle tone, cognition, pain, sitting balance, ability to participate in the transfer and tolerance of hoisting may all influence sling selection and the way the transfer is undertaken.
Assessments should therefore be reviewed when either the person's needs or the equipment being used changes.
This highlights an important principle within moving and handling:
The equipment may be appropriate, but the equipment-person-task-environment combination must also be appropriate.
Maintenance and LOLER remain essential
The alert also reminds organisations that pre-use checks are not a substitute for servicing, maintenance or statutory thorough examination.
Patient lifting equipment is subject to the requirements of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER).
Where lifting equipment is used for lifting people, thorough examinations are normally required at intervals not exceeding six months.
Organisations should therefore be able to identify when equipment was last examined, when the next examination is due, its maintenance history and whether there are outstanding defects.
Similar attention should be given to the inspection and management of slings in accordance with manufacturers' instructions.
Training should reflect the equipment staff actually use
Another important message from the alert concerns training.
Generic moving and handling training alone may not be sufficient if staff are subsequently expected to use equipment or sling systems with which they are unfamiliar.
Training should be relevant to the person's role and the equipment in their workplace.
That means staff should understand not only how to operate a hoist, but also why correct sling selection, fitting, attachment and compatibility matter.
They should also be able to recognise when something does not look right and understand when to stop the transfer rather than continuing simply because the task has already started.
Effective training should support staff to develop the confidence to question equipment arrangements, identify unsafe conditions and escalate concerns appropriately.
Safe hoisting is a system, not a single technique
Perhaps the most important message from this alert is that safe patient handling cannot be achieved by focusing on one element alone.
A well-maintained hoist will not prevent an incident if an incompatible sling is attached.
A suitable sling will not prevent an incident if it is fitted incorrectly.
A competent member of staff may still be placed in a difficult situation if equipment records, risk assessments or local procedures are inadequate.
Safe hoisting therefore depends on the interaction between:
the person being transferred, the staff involved, the equipment, the task, the environment and the systems supporting them.
This is why organisations should consider the MHRA alert as an opportunity to review their overall approach rather than simply adding another item to a training checklist.
What should care providers do now?
Care providers that use patient hoists should familiarise themselves with the full MHRA
National Patient Safety Alert and consider how its requirements compare with their current arrangements.
This may include reviewing local hoisting procedures, pre-use checks, equipment registers, sling and hoist compatibility information, maintenance arrangements, risk assessments and staff training.
The deadline for completing the actions identified within the National Patient Safety Alert is 16 September 2027, but organisations are expected to begin addressing the requirements as soon as possible.
How Nags Training Solutions can support your organisation
At Nags Training Solutions, our Moving and Handling training focuses on helping staff understand not only how to use equipment, but also the principles behind safer moving and handling practice.
Training can be tailored around the equipment used within your organisation, allowing staff to explore areas such as hoist safety, sling selection and fitting, pre-use checks, attachment systems, risk assessment and recognising when a transfer should be paused or reconsidered.
For organisations reviewing their training following the new MHRA alert, we can also discuss how your existing moving and handling training could be updated to reflect the latest guidance.
See the Patient Safety Alert here - National Patient Safety Alert: Patient hoists and slings (all types): risk of death and serious harm from falls (NatPSA/2026/005/MHRA) - GOV.UK
Comments