Abstract: A patient positioning element is provided for fitting to a patient support device having a base portion and a patient support deck which may support a mattress with a sheet thereon. The patient positioning element includes at least one fixing element for fixing to a patient support deck, a bar element for holding a sheet in position and at least one connector element transverse to the bar for connecting or coupling the bar to the fixing element. The connector element is adjustable such that the bar may take up a first storage position adjacent or near the fixing element and a second deployed position adjacent or near the upper surface of a mattress. The patient support deck is moveable upwardly and downwardly relative to the base portion.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus comprises a substantially rigid support deck for supporting a patient support element, a first sensing element and a second sensing element arranged on the support deck and separated from one another in a direction along the width of the patient support apparatus. Each sensing element is configured to determine, in use, the force or pressure applied to it by the patient support element and a patient on the patient support element. One or more processors, coupled to the sensing elements, are configured to determine the location of the center of gravity of a patient on the patient support element, along the width of the patient support apparatus, based upon outputs of the first and second sensing elements. An alarm may be activated when the location of the center of gravity along the width of the patient support apparatus is outside a predetermined range of values.