Mixed-Sex Wards 'To Be Eliminated'

From next year, it has been announced that hospitals that treat patients in mixed-sex accommodation will not be paid for their care.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced the tough new penalties as part of a package of measures being introduced in a new drive to virtually eliminate mixed-sex space and ensure it does not reappear.

The Health Secretary also announced that NHS Trusts in England, which fail to scrap mixed-sex accommodation, will be subject to penalties.

The Department of Health's guidance to trusts is that men and women should not have to share sleeping accommodation or toilet facilities. From 2010/11 hospitals who fail to deliver this will face serious financial consequences - unless there is an overriding clinical justification.

The Health Secretary also announced that a £100 million Privacy and Dignity Fund will be made available to support the NHS to make the necessary changes to virtually eliminate mixed sex accommodation.

Speaking at the NHS Chairs conference in London, Mr Johnson said: "People often feel at their most vulnerable when they are in hospital and being cared for in mixed sex accommodation can be deeply distressing. These measures will help to ensure that patients can be treated with the dignity and privacy they rightly expect.

"The message is clear - the NHS has taken great strides in reducing mixed sex accommodation over the last twelve years but now it must eliminate it altogether other than where clinically necessary. Hospitals who fail in their duty to protect patients' privacy will be financially penalised as we will not foot the bill for care that has taken place in mixed sex accommodation."

He added: "I recognise that there are real, practical difficulties that some trusts need help to overcome and the new £100 million fund will help provide the support they need to achieve this."

The Privacy and Dignity Fund will be allocated to SHAs following submission of plans that set out how they intend to significantly reduce mixed sex accommodation. Plans will be submitted to the Department of Health by the end of February and the money will be allocated in April with the expectation that work has begun on the wards by the end of June.

(JM/CD)