Patient Transfer Equipment Guide Ireland
Patient transfer equipment should support safer moving and handling for the person being moved and for the staff assisting them.
Use this guide to identify the transfer type, user needs, compatibility requirements and quotation details before selecting products.
Choosing patient transfer equipment
Confirm whether the requirement is routine transfer, emergency transfer, bed repositioning, evacuation support or a specific handling task.
For a quotation, include product names if known, user or setting details, quantities, delivery location and any accessory or compatibility requirements.
Types of patient transfer equipment
Slide sheets and in-bed repositioning aids
Turning and repositioning a dependent person in bed is one of the highest-strain tasks in care work, and one of the most frequent. Friction-reducing aids such as the Tetcon UltraSlider simplify repositioning so fewer staff are needed to turn or reposition the person, while cutting the risk of neck, shoulder and back injuries for the staff doing it.
Handling slings, straps and harnesses
ProMove handling slings and accessories help staff move a person with reduced mobility in a controlled, dignified way, with spacer bars, connectors and harnesses configuring the system to the person and the task. See the ProMove patient transfer range for the full set.
Emergency and evacuation transfer
Some transfers are not routine care but emergency movement: getting a person downstairs in a fire, or across ground a wheeled aid cannot cross. Lightweight recovery stretchers such as the Spencer WOW, a 4.7 kg folding stretcher rated to 150 kg, cover this need alongside evacuation sheets and mats. If evacuation is the main requirement, read the evacuation mat and sheet buying guide alongside this one.
Choosing for the person, the task and the staff
Start with the person: their mobility, weight and how much they can assist. Then the task: in-bed repositioning, bed-to-trolley transfer, chair-to-bed, or evacuation. Then the staff: how many are available, what training they hold and what equipment they already use, because mixing systems mid-transfer creates risk. Infection control matters too, so confirm how each item is cleaned between users and whether single-patient versions are needed.
Weight capacity deserves the same discipline as it gets in stretcher buying: every transfer aid has a stated capacity on its product page, and bariatric care needs equipment selected against the person's actual weight, not the ward average. If in doubt, name the requirement in your enquiry and the team will confirm which products carry the rating.
Where transfer equipment earns its keep
Nursing homes use repositioning aids many times a day and also need evacuation-capable equipment to satisfy the arrangements for evacuating residents required of designated centres under Regulation 28 of S.I. No. 415 of 2013. In plain terms: the inspector will ask not just whether evacuation equipment exists, but whether staff on every shift can use it. Hospitals add high-frequency lateral transfers between beds and trolleys, where friction-reducing aids protect both patient and porter. Ambulance and rescue services pair transfer aids with the stretchers covered in our rescue stretcher buying guide, and home care teams need lightweight kit that travels in a car boot.
Safer handling and the law
Manual handling is the classic source of care-sector injury, and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to assess and reduce manual handling risk and to train staff for the tasks they actually perform. In plain terms: if staff are injured doing transfers that the right equipment would have made safer, the employer carries that failure. For residents who would need help to escape a fire, personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) should name the transfer equipment that will be used and the staff trained to use it.
Phoenix STS, which owns and operates safetyequipment.ie, delivers people moving and handling training and manual handling courses so the equipment and the technique arrive together.
Useful product links
Patient Transfer Equipment Ireland - category page for transfer aids.
ProMove Patient Transfer Equipment - manufacturer page.
Healthcare Evacuation Equipment - evacuation equipment for healthcare settings.
Example products
UltraSlider - Tetcon repositioning aid that cuts the number of staff needed to turn a person in bed.
Spencer WOW - folding recovery stretcher for emergency transfer, rated 150 kg.
Spacer Bar (2 piece) - ProMove handling accessory.
Screw Gate Connector / Carabiner - ProMove connector.
Petzl Connexion Vario Anchor Strap - anchor strap accessory for handling systems.
Red X Shaped Safety Harness - ProMove safety harness.
Patient transfer equipment FAQs
What equipment reduces the number of staff needed for repositioning?
Friction-reducing slide aids. The Tetcon UltraSlider is designed so fewer staff are needed to turn or reposition a person in bed, while reducing the physical strain on the staff involved.
What is the difference between routine transfer equipment and evacuation equipment?
Routine transfer equipment is built for daily care, with comfort and dignity at walking pace. Evacuation equipment is built for speed and escape, and should be named in each person's PEEP. Most care settings need both, and they are not interchangeable, so list the two requirements separately in your enquiry.
Do staff need training to use patient transfer equipment?
Yes. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires training for the handling tasks staff actually perform, and every manufacturer assumes trained users. Pair any new equipment with people moving and handling training so technique and kit match.
How is patient transfer equipment kept hygienic between users?
Check the cleaning instructions on each product page before buying, because materials differ: some items wipe down or launder for reuse, while high-turnover or infection-control settings may need single-patient versions. Build the cleaning method into your choice rather than discovering it at the first deep clean.
What details help with a patient transfer quote?
Include the transfer type, product names if known, quantity, setting, delivery location and any compatibility notes. Quantities by room, ward or site let the team prepare a complete quotation.
Quotation checklist
When requesting a quotation, include the product name or SKU, quantity, delivery location, user environment, required accessories and any relevant compliance or training needs.