Do you not have a county equipment service? In Essex we use Medequip for all our school equipment (they also service hospitals, care homes etc) and some schools have a mobile hoist on long term loan for such trips. Otherwise could you purchase one and store it somewhere to loan out to other schools when needed? Caretech might be another company to try.

Thank you for your speedy reply Jo. Unfortunately we don't have a central store, I'm sure it would make some things much easier (and more cost effective) if we could hold some basic equioment like this! I'll give the companies you mentioned a try.

Hi
Have you tried to loan from a local special school? I suspect it may be difficult to arrange delivery so probably easier if it collapsed and they could take from their location in the coach. I know it sounds obvious but remember the battery and staff need to familiarise themselves with the equipment before they use it if they haven't before. I say this as I went on a residential and we had to work out a new bit of kit..
Are they sure the place they are going haven't got one? Several of the residential settings our schools are using do have them.
I've tried loaning off road wheelchairs, bikes , Acheeva beds and we never have found companies that do this.
The Red Cross hire wheelchairs and it does say and other equipment so may be worth contacting them.

Good luck with it...

Hi, We have used a company local to ourselves called Multicare. They hire a variety of different pieces of equipment, including mobile hoists. Their customer service has always been excellent and they are very reasonable. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how far out they deliver, but worth a call.

https://multicaremedical.co.uk/
Tel: 024 7647 2600

Good luck!