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| Mixed-sex wards 'blighting NHS' | Mixed-sex wards 'blighting NHS' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government has failed to live up to its manifesto promise to phase out mixed-sex wards in hospitals in England, the Conservatives say. | The government has failed to live up to its manifesto promise to phase out mixed-sex wards in hospitals in England, the Conservatives say. |
| Responses from 132 hospital trusts to a Freedom of Information request found that 15% still used at least one open-plan, mixed-sex ward. | Responses from 132 hospital trusts to a Freedom of Information request found that 15% still used at least one open-plan, mixed-sex ward. |
| Others had curtains dividing the sexes, falling short of advice that there should be solid full-height partitions | Others had curtains dividing the sexes, falling short of advice that there should be solid full-height partitions |
| The government said progress was being made but admitted there was more to do. | The government said progress was being made but admitted there was more to do. |
| It is degrading to patients Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern Send us your comments | It is degrading to patients Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern Send us your comments |
| Labour pledged to end mixed-sex accommodation in both its 1997 and 2001 manifestos. | Labour pledged to end mixed-sex accommodation in both its 1997 and 2001 manifestos. |
| By 2006 ministers were claiming it had been achieved in 99% of cases, but patient surveys soon showed this to be untrue. | By 2006 ministers were claiming it had been achieved in 99% of cases, but patient surveys soon showed this to be untrue. |
| A government report in 2007 accepted 15% of trusts still had not achieved it. | A government report in 2007 accepted 15% of trusts still had not achieved it. |
| 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. |
| Failing | Failing |
| The Tories' freedom of information request on mixed-sex accommodation - the second of its kind carried out in the past year - was answered by 132 hospital trusts and 55 mental health trusts. For the latter, there was just one (2%) that had a mixed-sex ward. | The Tories' freedom of information request on mixed-sex accommodation - the second of its kind carried out in the past year - was answered by 132 hospital trusts and 55 mental health trusts. For the latter, there was just one (2%) that had a mixed-sex ward. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme As well as the use of "Nightingale" wards, 16% of hospital and 8% of mental health centres relied on curtains. | |
| And nearly a third were failing on the requirement that patients should not walk past those of the opposite sex when they were going to use washing or toilet facilities. | And nearly a third were failing on the requirement that patients should not walk past those of the opposite sex when they were going to use washing or toilet facilities. |
| The issue of mixed-sex accommodation has become a priority for the Tories. | The issue of mixed-sex accommodation has become a priority for the Tories. |
| Last year they promised they would fund a huge rise in single rooms, guaranteeing expectant mothers and mental health patients their own rooms. | |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Patients have enough to worry about without having to suffer the indignity of being placed in accommodation that affords them too little privacy. | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Patients have enough to worry about without having to suffer the indignity of being placed in accommodation that affords them too little privacy. |
| "Despite hearing promise after promise to end the scandal of mixed-sex wards, we have not seen the necessary action and they continue to blight our hospitals." | "Despite hearing promise after promise to end the scandal of mixed-sex wards, we have not seen the necessary action and they continue to blight our hospitals." |
| Sharing toilets | Sharing toilets |
| Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern, said: "It is scandalous that mixed-sex wards are still being used. | Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern, said: "It is scandalous that mixed-sex wards are still being used. |
| "It is degrading to patients. Hospitals are just too busy." | "It is degrading to patients. Hospitals are just too busy." |
| Dr Anthony Halperin, from the Patients Association, said the government had not given the full facts, with 30% of all wards sharing toilet facilities. | Dr Anthony Halperin, from the Patients Association, said the government had not given the full facts, with 30% of all wards sharing toilet facilities. |
| "Men and women find that very embarrassing, and it nullifies having single-sex wards." | "Men and women find that very embarrassing, and it nullifies having single-sex wards." |
| He said mixed-sex wards were about keeping beds occupied all the time, and were simply a "question of cost". | He said mixed-sex wards were about keeping beds occupied all the time, and were simply a "question of cost". |
| The Department of Health said surveys suggested just 2% of patients were unhappy over their privacy. | The Department of Health said surveys suggested just 2% of patients were unhappy over their privacy. |
| A spokesman added: "We are reducing mixed-sex accommodation to an absolute minimum and have made significant progress. | A spokesman added: "We are reducing mixed-sex accommodation to an absolute minimum and have made significant progress. |
| "Some hospitals and local NHS areas still have more to do and they are now required to publish and implement ambitious plans to improve." | "Some hospitals and local NHS areas still have more to do and they are now required to publish and implement ambitious plans to improve." |