- NHS hospitals placed patients in mixed wards 44,000 times last year despite ban
Last year, patients were placed on mixed NHS hospital wards a record 43,700 times, despite the practice being banned in 2012.
The number of violations last year was more than double the 20,061 reported in 2019, and the highest since data collection began in 2010.
The national noncompliance rate last year was three per 1,000 treatments, up from less than one per 1,000 before the pandemic.
But Medway Foundation Trust recorded a default rate of 26 per 1,000, while Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust had a rate of 22.5.
The use of mixed wards, with some exceptions for intensive care or chemotherapy, was banned in 2012 under the NHS constitution.
Patients were placed on mixed NHS hospital wards a record 43,700 times last year, despite the practice being banned in 2012 (Stock Photo)
NHS England said patients’ privacy, safety and dignity should be maintained with single-sex sleeping facilities, toilets or bathrooms.
Wes Streeting, Labour’s shadow health secretary, said: “Tory cuts to hospital beds and failure to train sufficient staff have left the health service unable to protect the basic dignity of patients. “.
An NHSE spokesperson said: “Trusts across the country are taking action to reduce or eliminate unjustified breaches.”
