MHRA Patient Hoist and Sling Safety Alert 2026: What Health and Social Care Providers Need to Know
On 16 September 2026, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a new National Patient Safety Alert concerning patient hoists and slings of all types.
The alert, NatPSA/2026/005/MHRA, was issued because fatal and serious harm continues to occur when people fall from hoists or slings during transfers and repositioning. It applies to acute and community healthcare organisations, care homes, nursing homes, care services supporting people in their own homes and equipment providers.
For health and social care providers, this is much wider than an equipment-maintenance issue. It has implications for management oversight, person-specific Moving & Assisting assessments, staff training and competence, pre-use checks, hoist and sling compatibility, LOLER arrangements and record keeping.
The MHRA describes this as a safety-critical and complex National Patient Safety Alert, with implementation to be coordinated by an executive leader or equivalent senior accountable person, such as a registered manager or responsible individual in organisations without executive boards.
The required actions should begin as soon as possible and be completed by 16 September 2027.
Read the full MHRA National Patient Safety Alert below
Why Was the MHRA Patient Hoist and Sling Safety Alert 2026 Issued?
The figures behind the alert demonstrate why providers should take notice.
Between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2025, the MHRA received 22 reports of incidents with a fatal outcome involving patient hoists during routine transfers. The incidents occurred across acute hospitals, care homes and people's own homes.
The alert refers to an average of around two deaths per year since 2015 and makes clear that the issue is not confined to one manufacturer, model or care setting.
Recurring causes of fatal and serious incidents identified by the MHRA include:
detachment at critical load-bearing interfaces such as spreader-bar hooks, clips, carabiners and fasteners;
missing, worn, damaged or incorrectly assembled components;
incompatible hoist and sling combinations;
third-party slings not validated for the particular hoist;
damaged or incorrectly seated sling loops;
incorrect attachment of slings to spreader bars;
ineffective pre-use checks;
inadequate or overdue maintenance, servicing or LOLER examination;
use of the wrong size or type of sling for the individual;
insufficient staff training and competence assessment; and
failure to follow manufacturers' Instructions for Use.
The alert also notes that similar contributing factors have appeared in previous guidance and safety alerts, indicating that existing guidance has not always been implemented reliably and systematically.
This makes the alert more than a prompt to introduce a new checklist. It is an opportunity for providers to examine whether established procedures are actually reflected in everyday practice.
What does the alert require providers to do?
The MHRA sets out five main areas for action.
1. Review pre-use checks – including the “pause-and-check”
Providers should ensure that standardised pre-use checks are in place for all hoists and slings and that these align with the manufacturer's Instructions for Use.
Checks should be capable of identifying issues such as:
missing components;
worn or damaged components;
damaged carabiners or retaining features;
damaged or incorrectly seated sling loops; and
other deterioration or incorrect assembly.
One of the most important practical points in the alert is the requirement for a pause-and-check step.
After the initial load has been taken up and the sling becomes taut, but before the person is entirely lifted, staff should pause and confirm that all attachment points remain securely attached.
The MHRA explains that this is particularly important with loop-type sling attachments.
This reflects earlier Scottish guidance. NHSScotland Assure's Safety Action Notice SAN2406, issued in October 2024, highlighted near misses involving looped sling attachments becoming detached from spreader bars and instructed users to stop after slack has been removed and check that the loops remain securely attached before proceeding.
For managers and Moving & Assisting leads, a useful question is:
Does our current training and competence assessment actually include this pause-and-check step in practice?
A written procedure is important, but staff also need to demonstrate the behaviour consistently during transfers.
2. Confirm hoist and sling compatibility
The alert requires organisations to review and document the compatibility of all hoist and sling combinations in use.
Compatibility should ordinarily be confirmed through the manufacturer's Instructions for Use. Providers should maintain a local register of approved combinations, accessible to relevant staff.
This is particularly relevant in services using equipment from several manufacturers.
A sling physically attaching to a hoist does not, by itself, demonstrate that the combination has been approved or validated as compatible.
HSE guidance also identifies incompatibility between a hoist and sling as a possible cause of insecure attachment and advises users to follow manufacturers' advice.
Where compatibility cannot be established through the manufacturer's Instructions for Use, the MHRA describes this as an exceptional circumstance. It states that compatibility should then be verified by an appropriately qualified person, documented and supported by evidence.
A patient-specific risk assessment must also confirm that the combination is suitable for the person.
A useful question for providers is therefore:
Could we identify today every hoist and sling combination our staff are authorised to use?
If the answer is unclear, this alert provides a strong reason to review those arrangements.
3. Review equipment records and inventories
Organisations should ensure that all patient hoists and slings are identified and recorded, including equipment provided within community settings.
Records should incorporate maintenance, LOLER examination and replacement planning.
The MHRA states that records should include, as a minimum, details such as:
manufacturer;
make and model;
lot number;
location;
date of last service;
end-of-service-life date;
date of last LOLER examination; and
next servicing and LOLER examination due dates.
This may be especially relevant to slings, which can move between locations, be laundered frequently and have identification labels that deteriorate over time.
HSE guidance highlights that lifting accessories such as slings should be uniquely identifiable so that users can determine whether they have been thoroughly examined and are safe to use.
4. Review servicing, maintenance and LOLER arrangements
The MHRA requires organisations to ensure that hoists are maintained, serviced and examined under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) and in accordance with the manufacturer's Instructions for Use.
Any hoist with an overdue examination or unresolved defect should be removed from service. Slings should also be checked in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
For lifting equipment used to lift people, the alert states that thorough examination by a competent person is required at intervals not exceeding six months.
An important distinction is:
Pre-use checks do not replace maintenance, servicing or statutory thorough examination.
Equally, a current LOLER examination does not remove the need for appropriate checks before use.
These are different layers of control.
Where maintenance or servicing is outsourced, providers should still monitor whether the required schedules are being followed.
5. Review staff training and competence
Action 5 is particularly important for health and social care providers.
The MHRA states that staff should receive role-appropriate training with regular updates, and that training records should be maintained.
Training should include:
use of relevant hoists and sling types;
manufacturers' Instructions for Use;
pre-use checks;
hoist and sling compatibility;
correct sling fitting;
correct attachment techniques;
recognising unsafe equipment states;
knowing when to stop;
escalation of concerns; and
reporting incidents and near misses.
Importantly, training should reflect the actual hoists and slings in use, the people being supported and the care setting in which staff work. The MHRA also highlights safe handling and transportation of hoists, particularly in multi-storey settings.
This reinforces an important principle in Moving & Assisting training:
Generic classroom knowledge alone is not sufficient.
Attending a Moving & Assisting course does not automatically demonstrate competence to use every model of hoist, every sling or every attachment system that a member of staff may encounter.
Providers should therefore consider both training and workplace competence.
For organisations that want a more structured approach to workplace competence, Moving & Assisting Competency Assessor Training can help designated staff develop the knowledge and skills needed to observe practice, assess competence, provide feedback and identify when further training or support may be required.
Individual Moving & Assisting assessments remain essential
The alert does not replace person-specific assessment and care planning.
HSE guidance states that an individual's assessment should consider the equipment required, including the type of hoist, sling type and size, sling attachments and the assistance required.
HSE also states that the person's risk assessment and care plan for hoisting should specify details including which hoist is to be used, the type and size of sling, any loop or leg-attachment configuration, additional safety devices and the number of carers required. This information should be communicated to staff and kept accessible for easy reference.
The MHRA alert adds that person-specific risk assessments should be revisited whenever either the equipment combination or the individual's circumstances change.
Examples include changes in:
weight;
posture;
muscle tone;
cognition;
pain;
sitting balance;
ability to participate in transfers; and
tolerance of hoisting.
A sling or transfer arrangement that was appropriate when first assessed may therefore not remain suitable indefinitely.
What could providers do now?
Each organisation will need to consider the alert within its own governance arrangements, but a practical review could include checking whether:
every hoist and sling can be identified;
servicing, maintenance and LOLER dates are recorded and monitored;
approved hoist-and-sling combinations are documented;
manufacturers' Instructions for Use are readily accessible;
individual care plans clearly specify the correct hoist, sling and attachment configuration;
standardised pre-use checks are being completed;
the pause-and-check stage is incorporated into practice;
staff can recognise worn, damaged or incorrectly fitted equipment;
defective equipment can be immediately taken out of use and clearly identified;
staff know how and where to escalate concerns;
near misses are reported as well as incidents;
training reflects the equipment actually used by the service;
staff receive appropriate updates; and
practical competence is assessed and recorded.
The aim should not be additional paperwork for its own sake.
The important question is whether equipment management, assessment, staff competence and day-to-day practice come together safely at the point of care.
Could your staff answer these questions?
One useful way of exploring how well policies translate into practice is to ask frontline staff some straightforward questions:
Which sling should this person use?
What size is it?
Which attachment or loop configuration should be used?
How do you know this sling is compatible with this particular hoist?
What checks do you carry out before using it?
What are you checking when the sling becomes taut?
What would make you stop the transfer?
What would you do if you noticed damage or wear?
Where is this person's Moving & Assisting assessment?
When was this equipment last examined?
Staff should not necessarily be expected to memorise every piece of technical information, but they should know what they need to check, where to find the correct information and when not to proceed.
Supporting your team's Moving & Assisting practice
At Slanjava Learning Ltd, we provide Moving & Assisting training for health and social care organisations across Scotland and beyond.
Our courses can support staff to develop and refresh practical knowledge around areas including:
person-centred Moving & Assisting;
hoist and sling use;
sling fitting and attachment;
equipment and pre-use checks;
safe handling techniques;
risk assessment;
recognising unsafe practice; and
knowing when to stop and escalate concerns.
We also provide Moving & Assisting Train the Trainer provision for organisations looking to develop appropriate internal training capacity, alongside Moving & Assisting Competency Assessor Training for services that want to strengthen how staff competence is observed, assessed and documented in the workplace.
Following publication of the MHRA alert, this may be a useful opportunity for providers to consider whether their existing training reflects the specific hoists, slings, attachment systems and working environments used within their own services.
Sling Summaries – supporting clearer documentation of sling assessment and use
Alongside appropriate training and competence, clear and accessible information about an individual's sling and how it should be used can play an important part in safer Moving & Assisting practice.
Our Sling Summaries are a collection of printable templates designed to help services document a service user's sling assessment and use in a clear and consistent format.
Each Sling Summary represents a commonly used type of sling.
This is particularly relevant when providers are reviewing issues highlighted within the MHRA alert, including:
use of the correct type and size of sling;
appropriate hoist and sling compatibility;
correct fitting and attachment;
person-specific assessment; and
making relevant information accessible to the staff carrying out the transfer.
Our Sling Summary 001–005 Loops Bundle contains printable templates 001–005, completed examples of the Sling Summaries and supporting Sling Summary information.
Sling Summaries can also be purchased individually as well as in a bundle, allowing services to select the particular template or templates relevant to the sling types used within their service.
The resources are intended to be used in conjunction with appropriate training, supervision, assessment and the organisation's own policies and procedures.
They should not be regarded as a replacement for:
manufacturers' Instructions for Use;
person-specific Moving & Assisting assessment;
care planning;
equipment compatibility checks;
local policies and procedures; or
appropriate training and competence assessment.
For providers reviewing their arrangements following NatPSA/2026/005/MHRA, Sling Summaries may offer one way of supporting clearer documentation and communication around an individual's assessed sling use.
If your organisation is reviewing its arrangements following the MHRA alert, Slanjava Learning Ltd can support you through Moving & Assisting training, Moving & Assisting Train the Trainer provision, Moving & Assisting Competency Assessor Training and Sling Summary documentation resources.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss how we can support your service.
Final thoughts
The MHRA's alert is an important reminder that safe hoisting involves much more than knowing how to operate the controls on a hoist.
Safe practice relies on several elements working together:
the right person-specific assessment + the right hoist + the right sling + confirmed compatibility + effective maintenance + appropriate pre-use checks + trained and competent staff + clear care planning + effective reporting.
A weakness in any part of that system can increase risk.
The fact that similar factors continue to appear in serious and fatal incidents means providers should use this alert as an opportunity not only to evidence completion of the required actions, but also to look critically at what actually happens during everyday Moving & Assisting practice.
Kind regards,
Slanjava Learning Ltd | Helping others to help others
Award-winning Health & Social Care Training
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References and Further Reading
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (n.d.) Moving and Handling in Health and Social Care. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/moving-handling/ (Accessed: September 2026).
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (n.d.) Moving and Handling in Health and Social Care: Moving and Handling Equipment. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/moving-handling/moving-handling-equipment.htm(Accessed: September 2026).
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (n.d.) Moving and Handling in Health and Social Care: Managing the Risk. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/moving-handling/manage-the-risk.htm (Accessed: September 2026).
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (2014, amended 2018) Safe Use of Lifting Equipment: Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (L113). Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l113.htm (Accessed: September 2026).
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) (2026) National Patient Safety Alert: Patient Hoists and Slings (All Types): Risk of Death and Serious Harm from Falls (NatPSA/2026/005/MHRA). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/national-patient-safety-alert-patient-hoists-and-slings-all-types-risk-of-death-and-serious-harm-from-falls-natpsa-slash-2026-slash-005-slash-mhra (Accessed: September 2026).
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) (2026) National Patient Safety Alert Supporting Information: Patient Hoists and Slings – Incidents and Case Examples. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-patient-safety-alert-supporting-information-patient-hoists-and-slings-incidents-and-case-examples/national-patient-safety-alert-supporting-information-patient-hoists-and-slings-incidents-and-case-examples (Accessed: September 2026).
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) (2021) Managing Medical Devices. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-medical-devices (Accessed: September 2026).
National Services Scotland (2024) Safety Action Notice SAN2406: Hoist Spreader Bar and Looped Sling Attachments – Sling Loop May Detach from Spreader Bar Hook During Lift. Available at: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/publications/safety-action-notice-san2406/ (Accessed: September 2026).
Slanjava Learning Ltd (n.d.) Sling Summary 001–005 Loops Bundle – One Licence. Available at: https://www.slanjavalearning.co.uk/product-page/sling-summary-001-005-loops-bundle-one-licence (Accessed: September 2026).
Disclaimer
The information contained in this article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is intended to support discussion around Moving & Assisting practice and the implementation of the MHRA National Patient Safety Alert NatPSA/2026/005/MHRA.
This article does not constitute legal, regulatory, clinical, engineering or equipment-specific advice and should not be used as a substitute for the original MHRA alert, applicable legislation, regulatory requirements, manufacturers' Instructions for Use, competent technical advice, person-specific risk assessments, care plans or organisation-specific policies and procedures.
Health and social care providers remain responsible for ensuring that hoists, slings and associated equipment are suitable for their intended use, appropriately maintained and examined, compatible where used together, and used by staff who have received appropriate training and competence assessment.
Sling Summaries are documentation resources designed to support the recording and communication of an individual's sling assessment and use. They should be used alongside appropriate training, supervision, assessment, manufacturers' Instructions for Use, person-specific care planning and the organisation's own policies and procedures. They should not be used to independently determine hoist and sling compatibility, prescribe a sling for an individual or replace an appropriate Moving & Assisting assessment.
Where equipment is damaged, defective, overdue for examination, incompatible or otherwise suspected to be unsafe, staff should follow their organisation's procedures, stop use where appropriate and escalate the concern to the relevant responsible person.
Organisations should refer directly to the current MHRA alert and other recognised guidance when reviewing their arrangements. Guidance, legislation and manufacturers' recommendations may change, and readers should ensure that they are referring to the most current information available.
Article Information
Title: MHRA Patient Hoist and Sling Safety Alert 2026: What Health and Social Care Providers Need to Know
Organisation: Slanjava Learning Ltd | Helping others to help others
Author: Lee Johnston
First Published: September 2026
Last Reviewed: September 2026
Next Review Due: September 2027, or sooner if the MHRA alert is updated, relevant legislation or recognised Moving & Assisting guidance changes, or significant new guidance is issued concerning patient hoists, slings, LOLER, equipment compatibility or staff training and competence.
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