§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to prevent treatment in mixed wards of patients who object to being in a mixed ward, and to offer all patients a real choice of ward.
Mr. EnnuisThe use and management of mixed wards is a matter for local decision, although I would always expect appropriate standards of privacy to be maintained and the dignity of the individual preserved. Mixed wards have been in use for some years. In mental illness hospitals they have been found to have positive advantage for many patients; elsewhere they are introduced usually when hospitals are under pressure and are introducing changes designed to improve the service to patients, such as day surgery and programmed investigations. Modern wards are often designed to accommodate men and women at the same time quite satisfactorily, with separate bed bays for each sex: when accommodation not so designed is used by both sexes patients should be notified in advance of admission and whenever possible offered a choice. For routine admissions it should usually be possible
778Wto offer alternative accommodation, though this may sometimes mean delay if the only bed vacant is in a mixed ward. In the case of emergency admissions, especially to intensive therapy or similar wards, it may not be possible to offer alternative accommodation. My Department is currently consulting regional health authorities about the use of mixed wards, and will take further action if it appears then to he desirable.