Mixed-sex Accommodation in Hospitals

Health written statement – made at on 10 May 2007.

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Photo of Patricia Hewitt Patricia Hewitt Secretary of State, Department of Health

Today, the Department is publishing a report from the chief nursing officer on progress with mixed-sex accommodation in hospitals. This report highlights the actions the national health service should take to improve the provision of single-sex accommodation, and includes practical advice for trusts.

The chief executive of the NHS, David Nicholson, has reiterated our commitment to single-sex accommodation by including it in the operating framework for the NHS for 2007-08. In addition, strategic health authorities (SHAs) have been asked to review performance in this area, and have been working with a number of trusts to agree plans for improvement. SHAs are also publishing statements today on the position in their region.

Patients expect the NHS to deliver high standards of privacy and dignity that include, but are not restricted to, single-sex accommodation. Single-sex accommodation should be the norm in elective care, and remains the ideal for emergency treatment. However, we recognise that sometimes the need to treat and admit must take priority—the NHS will not turn a patient away just because a "right-sex" bed is not immediately available.

Copies of the chief nursing officer's report have been placed in the Library.