A broken hoist stops care
When a hoist is out of service, transfers get harder and riskier for residents and staff. Planned servicing finds worn parts before they fail.
Hoist servicing & repairs
Patient hoist servicing and repairs for care homes and hospitals
Planned servicing that keeps your hoists lifting safely, and fast repairs when one fails, carried out on site by multi-brand engineers with a written report for every hoist.
- Mobile hoists, stand aids and turners
- Arjo, Invacare, Oxford, Drive and more
- Engineers carry common spare parts
- LOLER examination on the same visit
From £45 + VAT per hoist
- 40+ years' experienceServicing for the NHS and private sector
- All makes and modelsMulti-brand engineers, authentic parts
- Full electronic reportsAn audit trail for every asset, every visit
- DBS-checked engineersUniformed, ID-carrying and fully trained
Why service your hoists
Keep every hoist lifting safely
Hoists are used many times a day. Regular servicing keeps them reliable, extends their life and gives you records that show they're maintained.
Batteries and actuators wear out
Most hoist breakdowns start with a tired battery, a worn actuator or a damaged handset. A service tests each one under load.
Service and LOLER together
A service is maintenance; a LOLER thorough examination is the legal safety check. We do both on one visit, so you only book once.
Hoist servicing: what it is and why it matters
A hoist service is planned maintenance. An engineer cleans, lubricates, adjusts and tests the hoist, checks the parts that wear, and replaces anything that's near the end of its life. It's different from a LOLER thorough examination, which is the legal safety inspection every hoist used to lift people needs at least every six months. Most manufacturers recommend a full service at least once a year, and many care homes have the service done alongside one of the two yearly LOLER examinations.
We service mobile hoists, stand aids, standing and raising aids, and patient turners from all major manufacturers, including Arjo, Invacare, Oxford, Drive DeVilbiss, Sunrise Medical and Prism. For fixed systems, see ceiling track hoist servicing and bath hoist servicing.
How often should a hoist be serviced?
| Check | How often | Why |
|---|---|---|
| LOLER thorough examination | At least every 6 months | Legal requirement for equipment that lifts people |
| Full service | At least every 12 months | Manufacturer recommendation, keeps the hoist reliable |
| Pre-use visual check | Before every use | Done by staff: slings, battery, obvious damage |
Hoists in very heavy use, such as on busy nursing floors or hospital wards, can benefit from a service every six months. We'll recommend a frequency for each hoist during your free site survey.
Hoist repairs and breakdowns
When a hoist fails, you need it back quickly. Our engineers carry a range of common spare parts, including batteries, handsets, actuators and castors, so many repairs are completed on the first visit. If a hoist can't be repaired safely on the day, we label it out of use and give you a clear quote for the repair or a replacement.
Repair call-outs start from £69 + VAT, including the first hour on site. Book one using the repair button at the top of this page, or call us. Our team can often talk your staff through simple fault finding over the phone first.
Hoist batteries and chargers
A hoist that won't lift, or stops partway through a transfer, usually has a battery problem. During every service we test battery health and the charger, and we can supply and fit replacement batteries for most makes. A spare charged battery for each hoist is one of the simplest ways to avoid a failed transfer.
Records for every hoist
Every hoist is barcoded on our first visit. After each visit you receive an electronic report listing the work done, parts fitted and any recommendations, so you have a complete maintenance history for CQC inspections, insurers and your own audits.
Hoist servicing in Hampshire and across the UK
Our base is in Lee-on-the-Solent, between Gosport and Fareham, so care homes and hospitals across Portsmouth, Southampton, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Waterlooville, Winchester and Basingstoke are close by. We also cover the Isle of Wight, West Sussex and Dorset, and run servicing contracts for NHS and private-sector clients across the UK.
How it works
From first call to compliant equipment
- 1
Free on-site survey
We visit, audit your equipment and asset numbers, and look for savings against your current supplier.
- 2
Clear, itemised quote
A quote for exactly the equipment and service frequency you need. No hidden costs and no minimum number of assets.
- 3
Scheduled visits
Quarterly, six-monthly or annual visits. Engineers carry spare parts so most faults are fixed first time.
- 4
Reports and asset records
Every item barcoded and logged, with a full electronic report after each visit, ready for audits and inspections.
Also from Shepherd
One supplier for all your equipment
LOLER Hoist Inspections
Six-monthly LOLER thorough examinations for patient hoists, stand aids and slings, with a written report for each item. From £45 + VAT per hoist. UK-wide.
Find out moreSling Inspections
Six-monthly LOLER inspections for patient hoist slings, with a report for every sling and clear advice on what to replace. From £10 + VAT per sling. UK-wide.
Find out moreCeiling Track Hoist Servicing
LOLER examinations, servicing and repairs for ceiling track and gantry hoists in care homes, hospitals and SEN schools. From £45 + VAT per hoist. UK-wide.
Find out moreFAQs
Hoist servicing FAQs
How much does a hoist service cost?
Hoist servicing starts from £45 + VAT per hoist. The exact price depends on how many hoists you have, the type of hoist and whether we're also carrying out the LOLER examination and other servicing on the same visit. You'll get a clear, itemised quote first, with no minimum number of items.
How often should a patient hoist be serviced?
Most manufacturers recommend a full service at least once a year. Separately, LOLER requires a thorough examination at least every six months for any hoist used to lift people. Many sites combine the annual service with one of the two LOLER visits.
Is a hoist service the same as a LOLER inspection?
No. A service is preventive maintenance such as cleaning, lubrication, adjustment and replacing worn parts. A LOLER thorough examination is the legally required safety inspection, which ends with a written report. We can do both on the same visit.
Do you repair hoists you didn't supply?
Yes. We service and repair hoists from all major manufacturers, whoever supplied them, using authentic parts from the original manufacturer or a recommended producer.
How much is a hoist repair call-out?
Repair call-outs start from £69 + VAT, which includes the first hour on site. Parts are quoted separately, and we'll always tell you the cost before fitting anything.
What should staff check before using a hoist?
Before every use, staff should check the hoist is charged, the emergency stop and lowering work, there's no visible damage, and the sling is the right size and type and in good condition. Anything wrong means the hoist shouldn't be used until it's checked.
Keep every bed, hoist and chair safe, compliant and working
Book a free on-site survey or talk to our team about servicing, LOLER inspections, repairs and equipment supply.