§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mixed sex hospital wards are in use in the United Kingdom. [14732]
§ Ms BlearsGuidance on maintaining privacy and dignity was first issued to the service in 1997 and since then the national health service has been working towards a clear target to eliminate mixed sex accommodation in 95 per cent. of national health service trusts by December 2002.
It is not possible to provide information at the level of the individual ward. The majority of hospital wards are usually subdivided into bays which are designated as male or female. Depending on the case mix and local need, the exact proportion of male to female bays will vary.
§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's progress on their plan to abolish mixed sex wards by 2002. [26717]
§ Ms BlearsWe have set a target of December 2002 for the provision of single sex accommodation in 95 per cent. of trusts.
On-going monitoring of the progress of the project continues and indicates that progress towards the targets is being maintained and work is continuing to ensure that this remains so.