Abstract: A hospital bed accessory for supporting a desk-like platform within reach of a patient, especially one who has to lie prone on the bed, so that he himself can reach it and read or write thereon, and move it out of the way, the accessory including a vertical main post clamped to the headboard of the bed, and a horizontal radial arm extending out from the main post over the bed. A depending second post is suspended from the outer end of the radial arm so as to bring the desk-like platform suspended from its lower end to convenient reach of the patient. Clips are provided on the desk-like platform for holding writing and reading materials thereon.