Some hospitals in Sussex are struggling to place patients in single-sex wards despite a Government pledge a decade ago to scrap them altogether. Siobhan Ryan reports.

Undignified, uncomfortable and degrading.

That is the view of the Patient Action Group in Sussex on hospitals continuing to have both men and women on the same wards.

Action group spokesman Peter Adams said: "It is amazing that in this day and age people are still having to put up with this.

"There may be some patients who don't mind but there are a large number who most certainly do and who find the whole idea of sharing space with a stranger of the opposite sex nearby very embarrassing.

"These people are in a vulnerable situation and this will only add to their stress if they cannot have their privacy and dignity ensured.

"It is undignified, uncomfortable and degrading and mixed-sex wards need to go."

Janice Kent, of the independent Patient and Public Involvement Forum for Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, said the issue of mixed-sex wards was one the group had been monitoring.

She said: "We have noted this issue on ward visits and seen that some areas have had mixed bays which has not been ideal.

"It is not something I would like to experience if I was in hospital.

"But I think the hospital trust has a difficult task. There is too much money being diverted from hospitals into community care for a start.

"And the trust is having to make savings by reducing bed numbers and staff to meet financial pressures but is still having to deal with large numbers of patients.

"This gives staff little leeway in where to place patients who must also not wait longer than four hours in accident and emergency.

"It is the patient who is affected while all this is going on and so the issue of mixed-sex wards is something we will continue to monitor."

An investigation by the Department of Health's chief nurse, Christine Beasley found one in six NHS hospital trusts are struggling to provide single-sex accommodation.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals and Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trusts are among 26 NHS organisations in England identified by their local strategic health authority (SHA) as needing more support to tackle the issue of privacy and dignity on their wards, which includes single-sex wards.

Professor Beasley's report said single-sex wards should be standard for pre-booked patients and the ideal for unscheduled treatment.

She said: "For some patients, mixed-sex accommodation is not a problem but for many it is a source of real distress.

"We need to acknowledge this and work to eliminate it in all but the most unusual of circumstances "However, we also need to be realistic that sometimes mixing of patients will occur, such as in highly specialised departments such as intensive care units.

"Nonetheless, some attempt at segregation should always be made."

The report offers advice for trusts struggling to maintain single-sex accommodation, from reviewing the ward layouts to publishing improvement targets.

A spokesman for South East Coast SHA, which has been supporting the Brighton and Worthing trusts, said it had already done considerable work.

He said: "Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust has a specific policy on privacy and dignity but recognises that some of its estate is old and does not provide patients with adequate privacy.

"Dedicated male and female facilities are now available at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and the trust has recently invested £300,000 in the refurbishment of the toilets and bathrooms in some of the oldest parts of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

"Worthing and Southlands Hospitals is now engaging with its patients' forum to hear the views of patients."

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust said: "All patients have access to separate-sex washing and toilet facilities.

"If a patient is placed in a ward with those of the opposite sex then an explanation is provided and every effort is made to move the patient to a same-sex ward as soon as possible and well within the 48-hour national guideline."

A spokeswoman for Worthing and Southlands said: "Addressing issues of privacy and dignity is a priority for the trust and we are working closely with the SHA.

"Our hospitals provide singlesex accommodation for patients except in admission, critical care and paediatric areas."

SHA chief executive Candy Morris said: "I am personally committed to improving the quality of service the NHS provides to its patients.

"I have established an SHA panel, consisting of lead nurses, clinicians, estates experts and senior managers to make recommendations about where further improvements can be made."

Katherine Murphy, of the Patients Association, said: "Patients have a right within the NHS to be treated in a safe environment with privacy, respect and dignity.

"In November Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt publicly stated that good progress was being made to abolish mixed wards. She was clearly misinformed by her own staff.

"Today, with the findings of the chief nursing officer's report, the truth about mixed-sex wards is now evident to all.

"It cannot be beyond the wit of NHS health administrators to deal with this problem but again trusts are unlikely to comply unless it is fully enforced by the Department of Health and a Government priority.

"Unfortunately mixed-sex wards is not a target."

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