Abstract: A hospital patient transfer system is provided by a transfer trolley with a wheeled undercarriage. A lift ram is movable up and down with respect to the undercarriage and can also tilt about a horizontal pivot on the undercarriage. The lift ram supports an upper frame so that it can be raised, lowered or tilted in response to varying positions of the ram. The upper frame has parallel end pieces spaced from each other by a distance such that a hospital bed, operation table or trolley can be received between them. The end pieces of the upper frame are provided with lift members which can be raised or lowered with respect to the end pieces. A flat rectangular patient-supporting element can removably be inserted in opposed tracks in the end pieces so that it may be positioned below a stretcher supported by the lift members when they are in a raised position. The lift members can then be lowered to enable the weight of the patient to be taken by the patient supporting element.