Abstract: A hospital bed structure, in particular a power elevating and lowering arrangement which is relatively simple in construction and at the same time provides substantially instant Trendelenburg position in the event of emergency, particularly when the bed is in an elevated position, such structure including means for permitting the head end of the bed to automatically lower to the desired Trendelenburg position. The operation may be controlled by relatively simple, fool-proof manual controls that are arranged for ready access and actuation in the event of an emergency. The invention also utilizes a novel U-shaped lower bed structure which readily accommodates the operating linkage and at the same time permits, for example, the use of bed pans, movable toilets and the like.