The invention relates to a mattress and a bed including the mattress. The mattress has at least one zone 22 & 26 including a plurality of cells 52 connected to a gas supply to allow the selective supply of gas to the cells in order to vary and fine tune the support provided to a patient on the mattress. Each cell 52 may include a core of foam material (58, figure 4b) located in a cavity defined by an enclosure (54). Also disclosed is a cell for use in the formation of a mattress for a bed. Further disclosed is a method of using the disclosed mattress by the selective introduction and removal of air to and from the cells to provide a positive movement force to move the patient.
