12a and 3b 12b respectively show the steps of transferring a patient from one supporting surface such as a hospital bed to a second supporting surface such as an examining table by means of a transfer unit 10 are clearly illustrated referring particularly to fig3 a and 3b the patient p to be moved is shown lying on a hospital sheet s of a hospital bed b the transfer unit 10 is positioned along one side of the bed b with support arms 15 and 16 in the first position after the transfer unit 10 has been properly positioned along side of the bed clamping arms 19 and 20 are temporarily removed from arms 15 and 16 and arms 15 and 16 are moved from the first position shown in fig3 a and 3b to the second position shown in fig4 a and 4b in this position the patient p lies between arms 15 and 16 clamping arms 19 and 20 are then placed in supporting position between the supporting arms so that they extend along the sides of the patient and together with arms 15 and 16 form a rectangular frame completely surrounding the patient after clamping arms 19 and 20 are in place the pinch bars 27 and 28 of each clamping arm are drawn together to pinch.