HC Deb 22 January 2003 vol 398 cc393-4W
Mr. Flook

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mixed sex mental health wards there are in(a) Somerset and (b) Somerset and Dorset strategic health authority area. [91946]

Ms Blears

The information requested is not available, as compliance is measured on a trust by trust basis and not at individual ward level.

Hospital wards generally care for both men and women. Guidance issued to the national health service for new mental health accommodation recommends that patient privacy is maintained through providing single bedrooms, preferably with en-suite facilities.

In existing facilities it is the responsibility of each NHS trust to determine the most appropriate configuration to meet their specific requirements. Wards may be split into single sex bays or single rooms, or otherwise configured to provide adequats egregation of gender.

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