The present invention is a patient transfer apparatus capable of easily transferring a patient while causing minimal inconvenience to the patient when transferring the patient between a patient bed and a patient-moving bed, or between the patient-moving bed and various inspection apparatuses. The patient transfer apparatus of the present invention comprises: a transfer arm for moving a top movable board on which the body of the patient is supported; a transfer arm housing fixed on a patient-moving bed frame so as to move the transfer arm; and a side protector laid on a patient bed so as to serve as a guide rail for enabling the transfer arm to easily move over the patient bed. The patient transfer apparatus of the present invention enables the patient to simply lie on his/her side from a recumbent position such that the patient can be loaded or unloaded onto/from the patient-moving bed, thus minimizing inconveniences to the patient and easily moving the patient with fewer staff members. Further, the patient transfer apparatus of the present invention eliminates the necessity of separate external power and eliminates the necessity of installation and withdrawal of a separate auxiliary device to thus enable easy operation, and the apparatus of the present invention has a simple configuration and thus can be provided in an inexpensive manner.