North West NHS mixed sex ward errors slashed (From This Is Lancashire)

North West NHS mixed sex ward errors slashed

9:00pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News

A RECORD 23 hospital trusts in the North West had no mixed sex accommodation breaches in August, according to data published by the Department of Health.

In August 2012 there were only 22 breaches – occasions where patients were unjustifiably placed in mixed sex accommodation – in the North West, down from 2,783 in December 2010.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust was one of the 23 trusts with no mixed-sex accomodation, in keeping with government guidelines.

Health Minister Dan Poulter said: “Nobody should have to suffer the indignity of mixed sex accommodation.

"Thanks to the hard work of NHS staff in the North West and the Government’s rigorous monitoring system, the number of patients placed in mixed sex accommodation has reduced nationally by 99per cent.

“Any hospital in the North West still placing patients in mixed sex accommodation will face fines of £250 per patient, per day for every breach.”

Providers of NHS funded care are expected to eliminate mixed-sex accommodation, except where it is in the overall best interest of the patient, or reflects their personal choice.