a hospital bed having a storable safety rail is provided . the bed includes a frame having a pair of laterally extending slide tubes mounted thereto . a pair of mounting shafts are positioned within the tubes and secure the safety rail to the frame . a stop member is positioned near the inner end of at least one of the tubes . the mounting shaft includes a projection which abuts the stop member when in a first rotational position , but is able to pass thereby when in a second rotational position . the stop member preferably includes an inclined surface opposing the inner end of the slide tube to urge the projection , and therefore the rail , outwardly as the mounting shafts rotate to move the rail to the raised position . a retraction spring is provided for urging the safety rail towards the bed frame while in the lowered position . the safety rail also includes a brake mechanism to resist the gravitational forces urging it downwardly from the raised position .