Stretcher Lifts & Hospital Elevators

Your choice of stretcher or hospital elevator should always be guided by the needs of each unit or ward. If you need an elevator for safe vertical transport of bed-bound patients, a large and powerful lift is a necessity. However, if you are looking for an elevator to transport passengers, laundry trolleys and other equipment between floors, a smaller platform lift or cabin lift may suffice.

Stretcher Lifts

Stretcher lifts, sometimes referred to as bed lifts, are elevators with the capacity to take a stretcher or a gurney. Some elevators for gurneys and stretchers are even big enough to accommodate hospital beds. Despite their very specific name, stretcher lifts often double as goods lifts. The reason is that this type of lift has the capacity to transport large trolleys, boxes, and goods pallets. Although stretcher lifts are most common in medical facilities, the safety protocols of other buildings may require them too.

Hospital Lifts

“Hospital elevator” designates a wide range of lift solutions suitable for hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. In general, this term refers to vertical lift solutions between floors. However, many medical facilities need additional lifting equipment like patient lifts. Even within the segment of vertical lifts, there are many different solutions to match different requirements. While busy, high-rise buildings require large, high-speed lifts, calmer wards in low-to-medium-rise buildings may not have the same needs. To learn more about vertical elevator types, click here.

Most hospitals and clinics need several different types of hospital lifts to operate efficiently. Not everything is about transporting hospital beds or gurneys. In many cases, you may just need an elevator to take food, laundry or a patient in a wheelchair a few floors up or down. It is important to remember that the secret to success is finding the right mix of elevating solutions for your establishment.

Wheelchair Lifts

For less busy wards and medical units, wheelchair lifts can be a good solution for passengers in general, patients in wheelchairs and various medical or cleaning equipment. According to European Standards, wheelchair lifts need to have a platform size of minimum 900 x 1400 mm, or a cabin size of 1100 x 1400 mm (w x d). For electric wheelchairs we recommend a platform size of about 1100 x 1600 mm or a cabin size of 1100 x 1700 mm (w x d). For mobility scooters, we recommend a platform size of at least 1100 x 2100 mm. Visit our wheelchair lifts page to learn more.

Dumbwaiters

A dumbwaiter is a small freight elevator designed to transport food between floors in a building. Dumbwaiters are common in restaurants and hotels but can also facilitate meal services in hospitals and care homes. Delivering and returning patient trays through dumbwaiters can save a lot of time for hospital and care home staff. In addition, fast and easy food deliveries through dumbwaiters reduces the risk of patients getting cold food.

For more tips about choosing the best lift solutions for your care home or clinic, please read our blog.