Same-sex accommodation

Single sex accomodation Everyone working in the NHS has a vital part to play in achieving the goal of eliminating mixed-sex accommodation by April 2010, and ensuring that all patients feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible during their time in hospital.

Privacy, dignity and same-sex accommodation

The NHS is committed to making sure that all patients receive high-quality care that is safe, effective and focused on their needs. The NHS Constitution states that all patients have the right to privacy and to be treated with dignity and respect. We believe that providing same-sex accommodation is an effective way of helping to achieve this goal and of giving all patients the best possible experience while they are in hospital.

Why is same-sex accommodation so important?

It is clear from what patients tell us that being in mixed-sex accommodation can compromise their privacy and dignity at a time when they may already be feeling vulnerable. The most common concerns include physical exposure, being in an embarrassing or threatening situation, noise, and the possibility of other patients overhearing conversations about their condition.

Women, and elderly women in particular, are most likely to worry about being in mixed-sex accommodation, although male patients also say that they feel reluctant to talk openly and find it embarrassing to be in a mixed-sex setting. Some patients are also strongly opposed to mixed-sex accommodation for cultural or religious reasons.

What do we mean by mixed-sex and same-sex accommodation?

Mixed-sex accommodation is where men and women have to share sleeping areas or toilet and washing facilities. Same-sex accommodation is where specific sleeping areas and toilet and washing facilities are designated as either men-only or women-only.

Same-sex accommodation can be provided in:

same-sex wards, where the whole ward is occupied by men or women only
single rooms, or
mixed wards, where men and women are in separate bays or rooms.

Toilet and washing facilities should be easily accessible and, ideally, either inside or next to the ward, bay or room. Patients should not need to go through sleeping areas or toilet and washing facilities used by the opposite sex to access their own.

Is mixed-sex accommodation ever acceptable?

Most people accept that in some situations there is no alternative to men and women sharing accommodation. This includes situations where patients need urgent, highly specialised or high-tech care. When making this decision, staff must make sure that it is in the interests of all patients affected, and work to move patients into same-sex accommodation as quickly as possible.

The same-sex accommodation programme

Most hospitals are already making good progress towards providing same-sex accommodation: 99 per cent say they are providing same-sex sleeping areas, and 97 per cent same-sex toilet and washing facilities. But there is still work to be done to ensure that all patients have the best possible experience during their time in hospital.

Local provider declarations and action plans

The NHS Operating Framework for 2011/12 requires all providers of NHS funded care to confirm whether they are compliant with the national definition ’to eliminate mixed sex accommodation except where it is in the overall best interests of the patient. Providers are also required to produce a plan to ensure continued delivery and improvement of same-sex accommodation.

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital declaration on delivering same sex accommodation

Queen Elizabeth Hospital progress report on eliminating mixed sex accommodation

Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Norfolk Community Health and Care (NCH&C)