Trusts told act now to end mixed-sex wards

Senior nurses at SHAs have admitted that achieving this long-running goal, first set by the government back in 1997, will be tough.

Nursing Times has seen a copy of a strongly worded letter – titled ‘drive to eliminate “mixed-sex accommodation”’ – in which the government sets out a ‘six-month, intensive improvement programme’ to deliver a commitment to end mixed-sex wards, made in January by health secretary Alan Johnson.

The letter, from chief nursing officer Dame Christine Beasley and David Flory, NHS director general of finance, performance and operations, is addressed to directors of nursing and senior personnel at all SHAs in England.

It sets out how, over the next six months trusts must show ‘what actions have been, or are being taken, to reduce the need for mixed-sex accommodation to the lowest possible level’.

There must also be a greater focus on patient experience.

‘In all instances where mixing of men and women is unavoidable, the patient, their relatives and carers should be informed of why the situation has occurred, what is being done to address it, who is dealing with it and some indication as to when it may be resolved,’ it said.

‘Mixing of the sexes can often be avoided, can usually be reduced and can always be managed better. There can be no excuse for doing nothing.’

SHAs will have to conduct risk assessments then draw up ‘comprehensive plans’ for every trust to stamp out mixed-sex wards, with the exception of circumstances such as ICU.

Once their plans have been approved, SHAs will have to report to the government every two weeks stating what has been achieved and where their efforts are falling short.

The letter follows a memo leaked to The Guardian in January, in which Mr Johnson is quoted as saying ‘sane and rational arguments about why it [the eradication of mixed-sex accommodation] can’t be done no longer cut it with me’.

Liz Redfern, chief nurse at NHS South West, said that the most problematic areas would be medical admissions units.

‘We are steadily trying to improve things, particularly in medical and emergency admissions units, where clinical need and the speed of assessment has to be balanced against having mixed-sex accommodation,’ she said. She admitted for trusts with ‘very, very old buildings’ getting rid of such wards would ‘pose a greater challenge’.

Lynn Andrews, assistant director of nursing at NHS East Midlands, said that the SHA was ‘looking at what the contributory factors are that could lead to mixing and what support tools we can give to staff to help’.

RCN policy adviser Howard Catton agreed it would be tough for some trusts. ‘Most hospitals are running hot, they are running at full capacity,’ he said. ‘The other elephant in the room could be that they need more beds.’

• Related article: Conservatives pledge to abolish mixed-sexwards

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