§ Lord Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
what progress has been made in eliminating mixed wards in the National Health Service. [HL4416]
§ Baroness AndrewsThe Department of Health has set three objectives to support the elimination of mixed-sex accommodation with a target to achieve these in 95 per cent of trusts by December 2002. The objectives are designed to deliver separate sleeping areas, separate toilet and washing facilities and safe facilities for the mentally ill.
The National Health Service has made excellent progress. At the target date: 98 per cent of NHS trusts provided single-sex sleeping accommodation for planned admissions and had robust operational policies in place to protect patients' privacy and dignity; 95 per cent of NHS trusts met the additional criteria set to ensure the safety of patients who are mentally ill (this has now risen to 96 per cent); and 93 per cent of NHS trusts provided properly segregated bathroom and toilet facilities for men and women. This has risen to 95 per cent.