Abstract: A stretcher for a medical patient has at one end two L-shaped handles which each have first and second legs and which are each supported at the outer end of the first leg for 90.degree. pivotal movement between a position in which the first leg is horizontal and approximately level with the top surface of the stretcher and a position in which the second leg is horizontal and located vertically higher than the top surface of the stretcher. The stretcher has two spaced vertical openings therein, and the first leg of each handle has an extension, each extension being received in a respective opening in the stretcher for lengthwise sliding movement between a first position in which the extension is disposed substantially within the opening and a second position in which the extension is disposed substantially outside the opening.

Abstract: A hospital stretcher includes an upwardly facing patient support surface and side rails on each side of the surface movable between raised and collapsed positions. Each side rail has at one end a spindle with a handle portion which, in the raised position, extends downwardly and away from the side rail. In the collapsed position, the top of each side rail is disposed below the support surface on the stretcher. The stretcher has on each side thereof a patient transfer mechanism, each transfer mechanism including a support board which can, from a retracted position disposed lower than the patient support surface, move upwardly between the support surface and one side rail in a vertical orientation and then pivot 90.degree. to a horizontal orientation in which a surface thereon is level with the patient support surface and in which an underside of one edge portion of the support board rests on top of the collapsed side rail.