PharmacovigilanceOfficial

AEMPS warns of double-failure risk in certain Likorall ceiling patient lifts

🇪🇸 AEMPS · Fri 06 Nov 2026

Spain's regulator says a motor shaft break combined with a faulty Single Fault Safety system could cause patient falls or sudden descents; Baxter is inspecting affected units.

The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) published safety note PS 46/2026 on 6 November 2026 concerning certain Likorall ceiling patient lifting systems. The agency learned of the issue from the manufacturer, Liko AB of Sweden. It describes a possible double failure: breakage of the motor shaft together with an error in the performance of the Single Fault Safety (SFS) system.

The SFS system is meant to control the descent speed of the lifting strap if the motor or transmission fails, and to slow or stop the lift if the motor shaft breaks. AEMPS says some units may have insufficient oil in the SFS safety drum, which could compromise braking. The oil level cannot be seen, so users cannot check it themselves.

If both failures occur, the patient could fall or descend abruptly with greater impact. Injuries could vary in severity depending on lift height, weight, position and descent speed. Caregivers also face a risk of mild to moderate musculoskeletal injury if they try to stop a fall.

The distributor, Baxter, has developed inspection procedures to identify potentially affected equipment and carry out corrections. Authorised Baxter technicians or qualified companies that perform periodic maintenance can do this work. Baxter is sending notices in Spain, with separate versions for customers who bought the lift in 1994–2015 (informative only, as units are past their 10-year service life), customers who bought in 2016–2026, and a letter for patients and caregivers.

AEMPS lists affected models by product code, serial number range and UDI-DI, covering Likorall 200, 242, 243 and 250 variants. It tells users to stop using any Likorall ceiling lift older than 10 years and to contact Baxter if unsure whether their unit is affected. Until inspection, it advises using an alternative mobile lift where possible. Anyone who keeps using an affected device should follow the instructions for use, get a second person to help with transfers, keep the patient as low as possible, clear the transfer area, monitor continuously and stop at any sign of instability.

What it means for your team

  • Vigilance and QA teams at healthcare and care facilities should check installed Likorall lifts against the product codes, serial ranges and UDI-DIs in PS 46/2026.
  • Units beyond the 10-year service life should be taken out of use, according to AEMPS.
  • Because the oil level is not visible to users, inspection and correction depend on Baxter or qualified maintenance providers rather than on user checks.
  • Facilities that keep using affected lifts before inspection should apply the interim precautions and keep the notice with the equipment.

Official source: AEMPS ↗

Article written by VigiEye from the official source (AEMPS). AI-assisted; check the source before acting.

More Pharmacovigilance All →