Declaration of compliance
West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust is pleased to confirm that we are compliant (2012/13) 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 Intensive Care Unit, High Dependency Unit or Coronary Care Unit or when patients actively choose to share (for instance when family groups are admitted together).
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 in our Quality report and on this website.
What does this mean for patients?
Other than in the circumstances set out above, patients admitted to West Middlesex University Hospital can expect to find the following:
Same sex-accommodation means:
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The room where your bed is will only have patients of the same sex as you
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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 (e.g. 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 (e.g. 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?
Our plan (click here to download) summarises the actions we have taken and are taking to ensure continued improvements for our patients.
We will also continue to ensure that our staff understand and comply with our standards for privacy and dignity and this will continue via our training and education programmes. A key aspect of this work is to ensure the understanding of our patients who are nursed in a single sex bay on a mixed sex ward.
How will we measure success?
It is our aim that none of our patients experience mixed sex sleeping accommodation in our general ward areas. In order to ensure that these standards are continually met, daily monitoring is in place and this information is reported to the Trust executive monthly.
In addition to this, we participate in the annual inpatient survey where patient experience of accommodation and hygiene facilities are measured. We also undertake local surveys of patients which incorporate this issue.
What do I do if I think I am in mixed sex accommodation?
We want to know about your experiences. If you have any comments or concerns talk to the nurse in charge of your ward / department or the Matron in the first instance.
An alternative is to contact our Patient and Public involvement team on 020 8321 6261 (extension 6261 from an internal phone) or 020 8321 5273 (5273 from an internal phone) who will be happy to work on your behalf to address your concerns.
You can view our plans to achieve same sex accommodation by clicking on the document below:
