HL Deb 10 March 1997 vol 579 cc7-8

2.52 p.m.

Baroness Jay of Paddington asked Her Majesty's Government:

What response they have received to the Department of Health's request to health authorities to submit, by the end of February, timetabled plans for providing single-sex accommodation for patients in hospitals.

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, most health authorities have now responded. The information is at present being collated by regional offices of the National Health Service Executive, and Ministers expect to receive a report of the results shortly.

Baroness Jay of Paddington

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply, but I must confess to being somewhat disappointed by its lack of precision. Is the Minister saying that the ambitious targets that the Secretary of State described in January as needing to be both challenging and achievable in a relatively short time are simply still being discussed? Will that give real hope to those millions of patients who are most concerned about the issue? Alternatively, is this simply an attempt to kick the whole problem into touch until after the general election?

Baroness Cumberlege

No, my Lords. Health authorities were asked to submit their returns by 28th February. Those returns are now with the regional offices and, once they have collated and analysed them, they will be forwarded to the Secretary of State.

Baroness Jay of Paddington

My Lords, as we have time today, perhaps I may press the Minister a little further. After all, there are now only eight regional offices of the National Health Service. Is it not possible for the Minister to give at least some indication of the results that have been given thus far? This is an issue of some considerable urgency and one of great importance to many patients.

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, I accept that we are discussing a matter of urgency and of great importance to many patients. The noble Baroness will know that we have a great many hospitals in this country; we have a great many wards; and we have a great many beds. Indeed, we admit approximately 9 million people every year to NHS hospitals. It is a complex problem and the last thing I am sure the noble Baroness would want would be duff information.

Baroness Williams of Crosby

My Lords, will the Minister accept that, with the exception of some of the day operations and other such matters, for many patients the idea of a joint sex ward creates considerable distress? Could the noble Baroness at least give an indication to hospitals and health trusts when they respond to her that she would hope that they would approach the issue sympathetically and with due urgency?

Baroness Cumberlege

Yes, my Lords. It is because the Secretary of State, Ministers, the Government and, indeed, myself are concerned about the issue that further action has been taken. It has been in the Patient's Charter, but the Secretary of State was not convinced that enough attention was being given to this particular aspect of the charter. That is why firm action has been taken.