Abstract: Lifting yoke for a patient lifting apparatus, in which the lifting yoke is suspended rotatably about a vertical axis from a lifting arm which is movable up and down relative to the frame. The lifting yoke includes:a bearing arm which is suspended rotatably relative to the lifting arm;a first and a second rod, which at one end can each be swivelled separately relative to the bearing arm, and at the other end bear the strap(s) for supporting the patient, anda drive mechanism which acts upon the bearing arm and upon one of the rods, in order to make the rods swivel relative to each other between a position corresponding to the reclining position of the patient and a position corresponding to the sitting position of the patient.