We continue to take every opportunity to improve our built environment, both to afford the highest possible space standards as well as to allow all clinical procedures to be carried out with due regards to the patient’s privacy and dignity.
We are proud to confirm that mixed sex accommodation has been virtually eliminated in all our hospitals.
Declaration of compliance
City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to confirm that we are compliant with the Government’s requirement to eliminate mixed-sex accommodation, except when it is in the patient’s overall best interest, or reflects their personal choice.
We have the necessary facilities, resources and culture to ensure that patients who are admitted to our hospitals will only share the room where they sleep with members of the same sex, and same-sex toilets and bathrooms will be close to their bed area. Sharing with members of the opposite sex will only happen when clinically necessary (for example where patients need specialist equipment such as in the Chest Pain Assessment Unit and the Phoenix Unit) or when patients actively choose to share (for instance the Renal Dialysis Unit).If our care should fall short of the required standard, we will report it.
We will also set up an audit mechanism to make sure that we do not misclassify any of our reports. We will publish the results of that audit as part of our Annual Report and to Council of Governor meetings in public.
What does this mean for patients?
Other than in the circumstances set out above, patients admitted to City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust can expect to find the following:
Same sex-accommodation means:
- The room (bay) where your bed is will only have patients of the same sex as you
- Your toilet and bathroom will be just for your gender, and will be close to your bed area
It is possible that there will be both men and women patients on the ward, but they will not share your sleeping area. You may have to cross a ward corridor to reach your bathroom, but you will not have to walk through opposite-sex areas.
You may share some communal space, such as day rooms or dining rooms, and it is very likely that you will see both men and women patients as you move around the hospital (eg on your way to X-ray or the operating theatre).
It is probable that visitors of the opposite gender will come into the room where your bed is, and this may include patients visiting each other.
It is almost certain that both male and female nurses, doctors and other staff will come into your bed area.
If you need help to use the toilet or take a bath (eg you need a hoist or special bath) then you may be taken to a “unisex” bathroom used by both men and women, but a member of staff will be with you, and other patients will not be in the bathroom at the same time.
The NHS will not turn patients away just because a “right-sex” bed is not immediately available.
What are our plans for the future?
- In order to deliver our commitment to virtually eliminate Mixed Sex Accommodation the Trust aims to deliver the following Good Practice Principles.
The Board of Directors actively supports patients’ privacy and dignity
There is clear evidence of commitment by the Board of Directors to improve privacy and dignity arrangements.
- The Board of Directors understands what patients want and endeavors to deliver it.
- The Board understands the Trust’s performance against privacy and dignity benchmarks and sets local goals for improvement.
- Resources are allocated to preserving and improving the privacy and dignity of all patients and service users.
The physical environment actively supports patients’ privacy and dignity
- The care environment is clean and well maintained
- There is good physical separation of sleeping accommodation for men and women
- The physical environment is appropriate for the care group
- There are segregated toilet and washing facilities for men and women
Individual staff actions actively support privacy and dignity
- Staff are aware of, and abide by, policies established to ensure privacy and dignity
- Staff apologise for all episodes of mixing and keep patients and visitors informed about actions that are being taken to solve the problem
- Staff report episodes of mixing through the appropriate reporting channels.
What do I do if I think I am in mixed sex accommodation?
We want to know about your experiences. Please contact the Help and Advice Service in the first instance either by email (helpandadvice@chsft.nhs.uk) or telephone 0191 569 9855 (or freephone 0800 587 6513)
