The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) is aware of a voluntary Field Safety Notice issued by BHTA member company Permobil concerning a limited number of M- and F- Corpus series power wheelchairs. This article explains what the notice means, who may be affected, and what steps users and providers should take.

What has been identified?

Permobil has confirmed that an incorrect bushing was used during assembly on some M- and F- Corpus series power wheelchairs manufactured between 10 July 2025 and 25 July 2025. Further technical detail is set out in the official Field Safety Notice published by the MHRA, which can be viewed here.

A bushing is a small protective sleeve designed to reduce friction and vibration between moving parts. In the affected chairs, the incorrect bushing may reduce structural integrity during a hard front-end impact.

The component most affected is the integrated neck injury protection mechanism, which is designed to help reduce the risk of neck injury in the event of a collision.

What is the level of risk?

According to Permobil’s risk assessment, the likelihood of failure is low. However, because an increased risk has been identified under specific conditions, Permobil is carrying out a re-work on all affected units as a precaution.

There have been no instructions to stop using the chair in everyday situations. The notice focuses on ensuring that the device continues to meet its intended safety performance.

Which devices are affected?

Only a limited number of Permobil M- and F- Corpus series power wheelchairs are affected. The official Field Safety Notice includes full technical details and the complete list of affected serial numbers. These are specific units identified by serial number and manufacturing date.

If a chair is affected, the owner or service provider will be contacted directly. If you are unsure whether a device is included, your local provider can confirm this for you.

What happens next?

Permobil has instructed local providers to arrange a re-work of affected chairs. This corrective action will replace the incorrect component and restore full compliance with safety requirements. Providers will contact users directly to arrange the work at a suitable time.

Advice while waiting for re-work

While waiting for the corrective work to be completed, Permobil recommends avoiding car transportation of the chair, where possible, to minimise any risk associated with high-impact situations This is a precautionary measure and does not affect normal day-to-day use.

Contact information

Permobil advises that if you have any questions relating to this Field Safety Notice, you should contact your local provider or Permobil Customer Support.

Permobil Customer Support:

• Telephone: +46 60 787 90 60
• Email: customer_support_se@permobil.com

Permobil also requests that any device-related incidents are reported directly to the manufacturer at incident.report@permobil.com.

The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) would like to inform members, healthcare professionals, and users that Etac, a BHTA member, has issued a Field Safety Notice (CCR-2508-11) concerning specific models of its Molift Mover and sling bar products.

Overview

Etac has identified a potential issue affecting certain Molift Mover 205 and Molift Mover 300 mobile patient lifters, as well as Molift 2-point and 4-point sling bars. The issue was discovered following a customer report during assembly and load testing of a Molift Mover 300, the bolt for mounting the lifting bar broke. Upon further investigation, Etac discovered that the defect occurs as a result of deformation of the materials involved between the lifting bar and the arm of the Molift Mover. Such deformation can lead to limited mobility in the joint, which prevents proper functionality of the equipment.

Corrective action

Etac has initiated a proactive corrective action to address this issue. The manufacturer confirms that:

• Replacement units are being provided for all potentially affected products.
• Continued use of existing units is safe, provided that the lifting bar moves freely and remains vertical throughout the lifting cycle, with or without load.
• If the lifting bar does not move freely, or if there is any doubt about its function, the unit should be taken out of service immediately.
• Replacement of affected components will take place in stages and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

This action applies to specific batches of Molift Mover 205 and 300 units, and corresponding sling bars shipped between February and August 2025. Details of affected serial numbers are included in Etac’s official Field Safety Notice.

Member and user guidance

BHTA members and healthcare providers that have supplied or use these products should:

1. Review the Field Safety Notice in full.
2. Inspect affected units immediately for proper functionality.
3. Contact Etac or its authorised distributor for support, replacement scheduling, or further clarification.
4. Share this information with relevant colleagues, care facilities, and users.

Further information

The notice has been filed with the MHRA. BHTA members can read the full Field Safety Notice here.