§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have been made in respect of policy on mixed-sex wards in the national health service since 1965.
§ Mr. SackvilleNone. National health service hospitals have always been expected, as a general principle, to provide accommodation in such a way as to preserve the dignity of the individual patient, prevent embarrassment, and at all times to ensure acceptable standards of privacy. This has not changed since 1965, but is now a national standard under the patients charter.
The patients charter in England has been strengthened to ensure that patients are better informed so as to enable them to make a more informed choice on whether to accept accommodation in a mixed-sex ward. Under new charter standards, patients should expect single-sex washing and toilet facilities.
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