§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints about mixed-sex wards his Department has received in each of the last five years. [6584]
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recommendations have been made by his Department and the NHS executive to local health authorities and trust hospitals about the temporary use at a time of bed shortage of single-sex wards as mixed-sex wards in NHS hospital, and what information is gathered from health authorities about such temporary arrangements; [6583]
(2) what recommendations have been made by his Department and the NHS executive to local health authorities and trust hospitals about mixed sex wards in NHS hospitals; and what information is gathered from health authorities about mixed sex wards in NHS hospitals. [6582]
§ Mr. HoramUnder the patients charter hospitals are expected to treat patients with dignity and respect for their cultural and religious beliefs. In addition a new standard in the revised patients charter issued in January states:
Except in emergencies, you have a right to be told before you go into hospital whether it is planned to care for you in a ward for men and women. In all cases, you can expect single sex washing and toilet facilities. If you would prefer to be cared for in single sex accommodation (either in a single sex ward or "bay" area within a larger ward which offers equal privacy) your wishes will be respected whenever possible.There may be some cases, particularly emergencies, where a hospital cannot provide single sex accommodation. This is most likely to arise if you need to be looked after by a specialist nurse in an intensive care ward or in an observation 940W space unit. It is also possible that single sex accommodation may not be available at the time proposed for your admission. If this is the case, you have the choice of accepting the immediate admission or of waiting for single sex accommodation to become available.Guidance on the revised patients charter was given in HSG(95)13 issued on 3 March 1995. The Department does not collect information centrally on mixed-sex wards.
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from medical professionals and patients' representatives regarding mixed-sex wards in NHS hospital. [6581]
§ Mr. HoramWe have received a small number of representations from patients' representatives but are not aware of any from health professionals.
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if mixed-sex wards are being installed as part of new hospital facilities in the process of design and installation. [6585]
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new mixed-sex wards have been created in NHS hospitals in the last 10 years also expressing the data as a percentage of the total number of (i) new hospital wards and (ii) all hospitals wards. [6586]