Abstract: A patient transfer mechanism includes a horizontal frame positionable along the side of a bed; a support plate substantially coextensive with and fixedly mounted to the frame; and a movable transfer plate nominally resting on the support plate and being capable of being extended and retracted therealong while resting also partly on the bed; the transfer plate being covered throughout its movement by an adjustable length of fabric extending therearound, the length of fabric being adjusted proportional to and in synchronism with movement of the transfer plate in such manner that a variable upper planar extent of the length of fabric is fixedly positioned relative to an upper planar surface of the transfer plate, the transfer plate and the fabric being configured to transfer a patient from or to the bed. A gurney mounting such a patient transfer mechanism also is described.