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Majority of NHS trusts declare same-sex accommodation

Around 95 percent of trusts are expected to publish statements today to confirm that they have virtually* eliminated mixed-sex accommodation from hospitals across England, Health Secretary Andy Burnham announced.

This follows an intensive government drive and a £100 million ‘Privacy and Dignity Fund’ set up by the Department last January to help trusts improve their hospital environments and patient privacy and dignity.

Of the remaining 5% of trusts that are yet to confirm they have virtually eliminated mixed-sex accommodation, the majority have indicated that they will have clear action plans in place to address the situation. Any trust that fails to provide action plans will be subject to financial sanctions, as outlined in the 2010 -2011 NHS Operating Framework.

Since the drive was launched, at least 1,187 schemes have been successfully completed in more than 200 trusts. Improvement works vary from new or refurbished toilets and bathrooms, building of women-only lounges, re-glazing windows with frosted glass and installing new modesty curtains, screens and signs to provide same-sex areas for patients.

Improvement Support Teams assisted trusts that that faced particular challenges and helped them to develop and implement practical solutions – even helping to complete work during the swine flu pandemic.

Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham said:

'Today is the cut-off point for all trusts to confirm that they have virtually eliminated mixed-sex accommodation and we are confident that the vast majority of trusts will do so. This is a crucial part of building a people centred NHS.

'This was an extensive programme of improvement work undertaken within a tight time frame. We knew this would not be an easy task, but I have been impressed by the dedication and commitment of trusts to deliver this work and put an end to a mixed-sex environment that patients find unsettling, uncomfortable and undignified.

'We recognise that a small number of trusts will not declare full compliance today. We have been clear that any trust that fails to show full co-operation will be subject to financial sanctions. It is simply unacceptable for top quality treatment by our finest surgeons, doctors and nurses to be undermined by a sub-standard mixed sex environment.'

The Department of Health recently launched a series of design concepts to improve the hospital environment and enhance privacy and dignity for patients. These innovative designs include:

• A new patient gown – which features a dignified design, is warmer and more comfortable
• A BedPod – which creates a private, patient-controlled bed environment
• A Capsule Washroom – to rapidly refit wards to create single sex toilet and washing facilities
• A Reclining Day Chair – a unique hybrid between a wheelchair and a bed which provides greater comfort and security for patients being moved around the hospital
• Novel Screening Systems – to enhance privacy and dignity by providing screens that can be locked and help prevent conversations being overheard
• Flexible Signage System – to allow staff to designate same-sex areas

This programme boosts work to ensure that patients sleep in same-sex bays or wards and have access to suitable same-sex toilets and bathrooms facilities at every stage in their journey through care. The designs are currently undergoing a period of feedback, rigorous testing, trialling and evaluation before being made available for NHS trusts, from as early as next year.

Notes to editors

*‘Virtually eliminating’ - We recognise that there are times when the need to treat and admit can override the need for complete segregation.  This might apply, for instance, with:

• A patient needing very high-tech care, with one-to-one nursing (e.g. ICU, HDU);
• A patient needing very specialised care, where one nurse might be caring for a small number of patients; and
• A patient needing very urgent care (e.g. rapid admission following heart attack).

Where mixing does occur, it must be justifiable for all the patients affected. There are no blanket exemptions for particular specialties, and no exemptions at all from the need to provide high standards of privacy and dignity at all times.

For media enquiries please contact the Department of Health Newsdesk on 020 7210 5221

Detailed information on the amount of funding each trust received from the Department’s ‘Privacy and Dignity Fund’ and the number of schemes they undertook will be available online from today at the link below.

In January 2009, the then Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson announced an intensive drive to ‘all but eliminate’ mixed sex accommodation and a packet of measures including:

• A £100 million Privacy and Dignity Fund to help trusts make swift adjustments to patient experience;
• Improvement teams to be set up to go into hospitals that need support during the process;
• A greater focus on measuring and improving patient experience of mixed sex accommodation; and
• Financial penalties for those hospitals where patients are treated in mixed sex accommodation – unless it can be clinically justified.

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