Abstract: A maternity bed comprising a mattress main frame having a foot end and a head end, a base frame, a jacking means to support the main frame on the base frame and to permit of the height of the main frame relative to the base frame being varied, a mattress sub-frame movably mounted on the main frame for movement towards and away from the foot end of the main frame, the sub-frame comprising a base part supporting a mattress intermediate portion, and a backrest part supporting a mattress head portion and which is adjustable between a flat position in which the top surfaces of the mattress intermediate and head portions lie in a common plane, and an upright position in which the mattress head portion is inclined upwardly relative to the mattress intermediate portion at a maximum permitted angle, the main frame having means to support a mattress foot portion at the foot end of the main mattress frame when the sub-frame is at the head end of its permitted movement, the mattress foot portion being movable away from t