A lifting mechanism for a bed, comprising: - a leg connecting a foot assembly to a frame for supporting a mattress, the frame defining a support plane; - a linear actuator rotatably connected to the frame ; - a drive linkage mechanism comprising a drive input link pivotally connected to the frame about a first pivot axis and a drive output link pivotally connected to the frame about a second pivot axis; and - a leg linkage mechanism , characterised in that the leg linkage mechanism comprises a leg input link and a leg output link , the leg input link being pivotally connected to the frame about the second pivot axis and being coupled to the drive output link , and the leg output link being pivotally connected to the frame about a third pivot axis, and wherein a length of the leg input link is shorter than a length of the drive output link , and wherein the actuator is configured to extend and retract to apply a force to the drive input link , and the leg output link is arranged to apply a force to the leg , and the drive linkage mechanism and the leg linkage mechanism are configured to permit the frame to move with respect to the foot assembly in a direction perpendicular to the support plane between a raised position and a lowered position. - a leg connecting a foot assembly to a frame for supporting a mattress, the frame defining a support plane; - a linear actuator rotatably connected to the frame ; - a drive linkage mechanism comprising a drive input link pivotally connected to the frame about a first pivot axis and a drive output link pivotally connected to the frame about a second pivot axis; and - a leg linkage mechanism , characterised in that the leg linkage mechanism comprises a leg input link and a leg output link , the leg input link being pivotally connected to the frame about the second pivot axis and being coupled to the drive output link , and the leg output link being pivotally connected to the frame about a third pivot axis, and wherein a length of the leg input link is shorter than a length of the drive output link , and wherein the actuator is configured to extend and retract to apply a force to the drive input link , and the leg output link is arranged to apply a force to the leg , and the drive linkage mechanism and the leg linkage mechanism are configured to permit the frame to move with respect to the foot assembly in a direction perpendicular to the support plane between a raised position and a lowered position. characterised in that the leg linkage mechanism comprises a leg input link and a leg output link , the leg input link being pivotally connected to the frame about the second pivot axis and being coupled to the drive output link , and the leg output link being pivotally connected to the frame about a third pivot axis, and wherein a length of the leg input link is shorter than a length of the drive output link , and wherein the actuator is configured to extend and retract to apply a force to the drive input link , and the leg output link is arranged to apply a force to the leg , and the drive linkage mechanism and the leg linkage mechanism are configured to permit the frame to move with respect to the foot assembly in a direction perpendicular to the support plane between a raised position and a lowered position. <EOS>