Delivering Same Sex Accommodation

We are committed to providing the very best possible care for every patient that takes account of your individual needs.

We recognise that when you come into hospital you may be worried about where you'll be staying or who you'll be staying with. That's why we are working hard to provide you with same sex accommodation and to help safeguard your privacy and dignity.

What does same sex accommodation mean?

• The room 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

Wards within the Trust are grouped according to specialty. This allows patients with similar conditions to be nursed in one area with staff who are experienced in this type of care.

We wish to reassure you that each ward consists of separate male and female sleeping accommodation in the bays, each having separate toilet and washing facilities. Whichever ward or unit patients are nursed on, staff will ensure their privacy and dignity is maintained at all times, especially in sleeping, bathroom and toilet areas.

The clinical needs of patients are paramount and occasionally it may be necessary to mix male and female patients, for example in Intensive Care. In these instances, every effort will be made to rectify the situation as soon as possible but in the mean time, staff will make extra care to ensure that privacy and dignity is maintained.

If you have any concerns about this, please speak to the nurse in charge of the ward or unit.

For more details you can read our Delivering Same Sex Accommodation Declarations and Delivery Plan 2011-12 in Related Downloads.

You may also find the NHS Delivering Same Sex Accommodation website useful.