A hydraulically operated hospital bed with dual hydraulic power systems for operation with or without electrical service. The bed has its head and thigh/leg elevation functions performed by hydraulic cylinders. A control circuit meters the introduction and removal of hydraulic fluid from these cylinders so an occupant of the bed is not subjected to any sudden movement. In case of an emergency requiring the bed occupant to be in a supine position (the need to perform CPR), the normal control circuit is bypassed by an emergency circuit that allows much faster than normal lowering of the head and thigh/leg portions of the bed.