Clampdown on mixed-sex hospital wards

Hospitals that continue to treat patients in mixed–sex accommodation will not be paid for their care, the Health Secretary has announced.

Alan Johnson unveiled a tough package of measures aimed at eliminating mixed–sex accommodation in the NHS except in exceptional circumstances.

He said such accommodation was totally incompatible with the NHS’s focus on quality, dignity and respect.

Exception to the rule will be decided on a case–by–case basis but men and women being treated in intensive care, A&E and some medical assessment units will still be able to be treated together.

This month the Pennine Acute Trust, which runs Rochdale Infirmary, said it follows the Department of Health’s guidelines on mixed-sex wards and only areas like A&E and the medical admissions unit have both men and women on the same ward. Other wards have separate bays and toilet facilities.

Pennine Care NHS Trust, which provides mental health services in Rochdale, has no mixed-sex wards.

Mr Johnson said: “From 2010-11 hospitals who fail in their duty to protect patients’ privacy will be financially penalised. We will not pay for care that has taken place in mixed–sex accommodation unless it can be clinically justified.”