A bedframe for medical beds has a height-adjustable frame member and an obstruction detector on the height-adjustable frame member. The obstruction detector has a contact member which is displaceable, for obstruction detection, both upwardly and downwardly relative to the frame member. A sensor detects such displacement to stop movement of the frame member. The frame member may be a height adjustable lower frame member of a bedframe having also a height adjustable upper frame member. The bedframe also has a manually removable panel of its headboard and footboard, to allow access to a patient between columns carrying the height-adjustable upper frame member.