A hospital bed affects far more than comfort. It shapes manual handling risk, transfers, pressure care, cleaning time and how a ward, aged-care room or home runs each day. The right choice starts with who will use the bed and where, then works back to the features staff and carers will actually use.
Types of hospital bed
- Manual beds adjust with crank handles. They cost less upfront and suit lower-intensity settings, but rely on carers’ physical effort.
- Semi-electric beds power some functions, usually the backrest and leg section, while height is adjusted manually.
- Fully electric beds power the backrest, knee break and height from a handset, which suits frequent repositioning.
- Low beds go close to the floor for people at high risk of falls.
- Bariatric beds have a wider platform and higher safe working load. See our guide to bariatric equipment.
- ICU beds add functions for critical care, such as tilting, Trendelenburg positioning and CPR release.
- Paediatric beds are sized and railed for children.
Start with the care setting
In hospitals and larger facilities, electric profiling beds are often the practical choice where position changes, transfers and observation are routine. Height adjustment matters most: a low position supports safer entry and exit for people at risk of falls, and a good working height lets carers treat, change linen and help with hygiene without bending.
In aged care the focus is usually falls prevention, comfort, pressure care and simple controls. A bed low enough for one resident may not leave clearance for the hoist or wheelchair another resident needs, so check it works with the transfer equipment you use.
At home, the bed has to fit through the property and be manageable for family carers. Electric adjustment helps when the person needs support to sit up or change position, but a more complex bed isn’t better if nobody can use the controls confidently. Our guide to hospital beds for home care covers this in more detail.
Match functions to real needs
- Manual or electric: if staff reposition people many times a shift, powered controls save time and handling effort. Electric beds need a power point, cable management and a maintenance plan.
- Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg are needed in some clinical settings and unnecessary in many homes and standard aged-care rooms.
- Battery backup keeps the bed working during a power cut, important when someone can’t be left in one position.
- Central braking lets staff lock all castors at once before a transfer or treatment.
- Function lockout lets staff disable handset functions a patient shouldn’t use.
- CPR release flattens the backrest quickly in an emergency.
Check the safe working load
Look at the safe working load (SWL), not just a patient weight. SWL generally covers the combined load of the person, mattress, accessories and any equipment the bed supports. Bariatric beds need more room around the bed and can affect doorways, storage and transport.
Side rails
Side rails aren’t automatically safer. They can support repositioning and reduce the risk of rolling out, but they can also create entrapment risk or encourage a mobile person to climb over. Decide with your clinical assessment process. Where rails are used, check they suit the bed and mattress together, including the gaps between rails, mattress and bed ends, and don’t assume accessories from another model fit safely.
Specifications that change daily work
- Width and length with rails, IV poles and accessories fitted, plus room for staff to work on both sides.
- Castors and brakes that move easily for cleaning and room changes yet stay stable during transfers. Think about the whole route: thresholds, lifts, corridors and doorways.
- Controls that are intuitive and durable, with handsets in reach but clear of transfers. Ask about replacement handsets and parts.
- Electrical and regulatory documentation for Australian use, asset records, preventative maintenance and electrical safety testing.
Choose the mattress with the bed
The bed and mattress work as a system. An unsuitable mattress changes rail height, positioning and transfers, and can leave unsafe gaps. Match its dimensions to the manufacturer’s recommended platform. A standard foam mattress may suit lower-risk users; higher-risk people may need pressure redistribution, chosen through clinical assessment. Wipe-clean covers help where turnover is high; check that your cleaning products suit the covers, controls and rails.
Plan delivery and service before ordering
- Measure doorways, lifts, corridors, room access and the final position.
- Confirm the power point position and manage cords to avoid trip hazards.
- Check compatibility with mattresses, rails, hoists and accessories.
- Decide who will inspect, clean and service the bed over its working life.
Across several beds, standardising models simplifies training, spare parts and maintenance. Specialised low or bariatric beds can still make sense, as long as the mix is planned.
Look past the upfront price
An electric bed with good height adjustment can cost more than a manual one and still be better value where transfers and personal care happen all day. Paying for clinical functions nobody will use ties up budget better spent on the right mattress or transfer equipment.
Hospital beds at Kontact
Our hospital beds and stretchers include the electric three-function bed (225 kg SWL, function lockout), the five-function bed (300 kg SWL, battery backup), the tilting ICU bed with Trendelenburg, CPR release and battery backup, and Task Medical transfer stretchers. Each product page lists the manufacturer’s dimensions and features.
