A patient ceiling lift system including: first and second tensile support members operatively associated with a winding assembly to adjust an operative length of the tensile support members by extending or retracting the tensile support member ; sling support apparatuses attachable to each of the tensile support members , wherein the sling support apparatus includes a coupler for securing a sling ; first and second sensors configured to provide an indication of the relative height of the sling support apparatuses with respect to one another; and a controller configured to determine and regulate a relative difference in height of the two sling support apparatuses , wherein the winding assembly comprises a first motor unit , wherein the first tensile support member is coupled to the first motor unit , wherein the winding assembly further comprises a second motor unit , wherein the second tensile support member is coupled to the second motor unit , wherein the first and second position sensors are coupled to a respective one of the first and second motor units , characterised in that one of the first and second motor units is a master unit and the other is a slave unit, wherein the user interface controller unit includes an input tilt command providing for a change in the operative lengths of the first and second tensile support members relative to one another, allowing for a change in tilt of the patient sling supporting a patient, wherein the master unit adjusts the operative length of its associated tensile support member to produce said tilt, and wherein the slave unit does not change the operative length of its associated tensile support member during a tilt command. first and second tensile support members operatively associated with a winding assembly to adjust an operative length of the tensile support members by extending or retracting the tensile support member ; sling support apparatuses attachable to each of the tensile support members , wherein the sling support apparatus includes a coupler for securing a sling ; first and second sensors configured to provide an indication of the relative height of the sling support apparatuses with respect to one another; and a controller configured to determine and regulate a relative difference in height of the two sling support apparatuses , wherein the winding assembly comprises a first motor unit , wherein the first tensile support member is coupled to the first motor unit , wherein the winding assembly further comprises a second motor unit , wherein the second tensile support member is coupled to the second motor unit , wherein the first and second position sensors are coupled to a respective one of the first and second motor units , characterised in that one of the first and second motor units is a master unit and the other is a slave unit, wherein the user interface controller unit includes an input tilt command providing for a change in the operative lengths of the first and second tensile support members relative to one another, allowing for a change in tilt of the patient sling supporting a patient, wherein the master unit adjusts the operative length of its associated tensile support member to produce said tilt, and wherein the slave unit does not change the operative length of its associated tensile support member during a tilt command. <EOS>