§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to their Answer of 11th December 1995 (HL Deb., col. 1093), when the results of the survey into local policies, standards and design of wards in connection with the revised Citizen's Charter are likely to be published and whether they will include a progress report relating to the phasing out of mixed sex wards in NHS hospitals.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)The report will be issued shortly. The Patient's Charter standards state that except in emergencies patients have a right to be told before they enter hospital whether or not it is planned to care for them in a single sex ward. If their preference is for single sex accommodation, this will be respected wherever possible. In all cases, patients can expect single sex washing and toilet facilities. The report will summarise performance relating to these standards in the hospitals surveyed.