The system has a patient support surface and a support column for supporting the support surface. A trolley carries the support surface, where coupling units (22) are arranged in the surface. The coupling units are designed for the connection with other coupling units (24, 26) in the column and the trolley. A sensor (102) senses a position of the units (22) that are connected with the surface relative to the column-sided units (24). The sensor is effective when the surface is provided on the trolley and engages the position determined for transferring the surface to the column.