Assurance on ward sharing

Men and women will only share wards in an emergency at local hospitals.

The assurance comes from Marian Carroll, director of nursing for Pennine Acute Trust, and applies to the four hospitals it runs in Rochdale, Bury, North Manchester and Oldham.

The pledge means patients will only share a ward or room where they sleep with members of the same sex, and same-sex toilets and bathrooms will be close by.

The trust says mixed sex accommodation has been virtually eliminated in its hospitals, and sharing will only happen in emergency situations or when patients need specialist equipment, such as in critical care or on the renal unit.

Mrs Carroll said: “Sharing accommodation with the opposite sex can undermine privacy and dignity at a time when patients are already feeling vulnerable.

“In its simplest terms, patients should not normally have to share sleeping accommodation or sanitary facilities with members of the opposite sex.

“This applies to all areas of hospital care. However, there may be times when it is acceptable for men and women to be treated together, such as when they are receiving intensive care, urgent or emergency care.

“Where mixing does occur, it must be in the interest of all the patients affected.”

She added: “The eradication of mixed sex accommodation is crucial to improving patients’ experience, and will continue to be a priority for 2010 and beyond.”