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| Mixed-sex NHS 'still a problem' | Mixed-sex NHS 'still a problem' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Two thirds of NHS trusts are failing to meet the government's guidelines of ensuring hospital patients are kept in single-sex accommodation, figures show. | |
| The data, obtained by the Tories, revealed one in seven English trusts used curtains or screens rather than walls to separate men and women. | The data, obtained by the Tories, revealed one in seven English trusts used curtains or screens rather than walls to separate men and women. |
| Many more were unable to ensure patients did not pass members of the other sex when walking to the bathroom. The government said single-sex rooms were a priority for the health service. | |
| Ministers had originally pledged to end mixed-sex accommodation by 2002. | Ministers had originally pledged to end mixed-sex accommodation by 2002. |
| By 2006 ministers were claiming it had been achieved in 99% of cases, but patients surveys soon showed this to be untrue. | By 2006 ministers were claiming it had been achieved in 99% of cases, but patients surveys soon showed this to be untrue. |
| Patients are very clear - they hate mixed-sex wards and the hell they entail Vanessa Bourne, of the Patients Association 'My mother deserved more' | Patients are very clear - they hate mixed-sex wards and the hell they entail Vanessa Bourne, of the Patients Association 'My mother deserved more' |
| A government report in 2007 accepted 15% of trusts still had not achieved it, a point reinforced by a Healthcare Commission survey of 76,000 patients last week. | A government report in 2007 accepted 15% of trusts still had not achieved it, a point reinforced by a Healthcare Commission survey of 76,000 patients last week. |
| But the Tory figures, compiled by asking 171 hospital trusts a series of questions under the Freedom of Information Act, have unveiled a much wider problem. | But the Tory figures, compiled by asking 171 hospital trusts a series of questions under the Freedom of Information Act, have unveiled a much wider problem. |
| Under the government's definition of mixed-sex accommodation, patients should be kept in bays divided at the very least by fixed full-height partitions. | Under the government's definition of mixed-sex accommodation, patients should be kept in bays divided at the very least by fixed full-height partitions. |
| Patients should also not be expected to walk past others of the opposite sex to go to washing or toilet facilities either. | Patients should also not be expected to walk past others of the opposite sex to go to washing or toilet facilities either. |
| Intensive care and A&E departments are not included for practical reasons. | Intensive care and A&E departments are not included for practical reasons. |
| The detailed definition was introduced amid much disagreement over what constituted mixed-sex accommodation. | The detailed definition was introduced amid much disagreement over what constituted mixed-sex accommodation. |
| The Tories got responses from 120 trusts, finding one in seven placed patients in bays without three solid wards. Some reported they used curtains or screens. | The Tories got responses from 120 trusts, finding one in seven placed patients in bays without three solid wards. Some reported they used curtains or screens. |
| And 64% said patients in bays had to walk past areas occupied by the opposite sex to get to bathrooms. | And 64% said patients in bays had to walk past areas occupied by the opposite sex to get to bathrooms. |
| Standards | Standards |
| In total, just 33% were able to show that they met the minimum standards. | In total, just 33% were able to show that they met the minimum standards. |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Their endless promises to eliminate mixed sex accommodation have never been fulfilled and patients have been badly let down." | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Their endless promises to eliminate mixed sex accommodation have never been fulfilled and patients have been badly let down." |
| And Vanessa Bourne, of the Patients Association, said: "Patients have put up with more than 10 years of rhetoric, and no one is fooled by the playing with words that is going on. | And Vanessa Bourne, of the Patients Association, said: "Patients have put up with more than 10 years of rhetoric, and no one is fooled by the playing with words that is going on. |
| "Patients are very clear - they hate mixed-sex wards and the hell they entail." | "Patients are very clear - they hate mixed-sex wards and the hell they entail." |
| Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb added: "This is deeply upsetting to many patients and can put the more vulnerable at risk of abuse." | Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb added: "This is deeply upsetting to many patients and can put the more vulnerable at risk of abuse." |
| But a Department of Health spokesman said: "We have made this a top priority for the NHS and have asked every trust in England to set challenging local plans for improvement. | But a Department of Health spokesman said: "We have made this a top priority for the NHS and have asked every trust in England to set challenging local plans for improvement. |
| "The NHS should be in no doubt about how seriously we take this issue." | "The NHS should be in no doubt about how seriously we take this issue." |