Abstract: A hospital bed having a storable safety rail is provided. The bed includes a frame having a pair of laterally extending slide tubes mounted thereto. A pair of mounting shafts are positioned within the tubes and secure the safety rail to the frame. A stop member is positioned near the inner end of at least one of the tubes. The mounting shaft includes a projection which abuts the stop member when in a first rotational position, but is able to pass thereby when in a second rotational position. The stop member preferably includes an inclined surface opposing the inner end of the slide tube to urge the projection, and therefore the rail, outwardly as the mounting shafts rotate to move the rail to the raised position. A retraction spring is provided for urging the safety rail towards the bed frame while in the lowered position. The safety rail also includes a brake mechanism to resist the gravitational forces urging it downwardly from the raised position.