A recent report has revealed that the National Health Service (NHS) is placing women at risk by accommodating them in mixed-sex wards and facilities. Figures indicate that 53,874 patients were treated in mixed-sex accommodation last year, a figure more than double the 19,700 recorded in the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Non-statutory guidance established in 2010 generally prohibits mixed-sex accommodation, permitting it only in wards where patients might find comfort from others with similar conditions. However, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has criticized NHS trusts and private healthcare providers for failing to protect women.
The CQC's report on the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust highlighted instances of men undressing in the presence of women and the lack of gender-specific toilet facilities. The Trust operates five community mental health crisis facilities, known as The Havens, which were found to be 'requiring improvement.' In these facilities, male and female patients slept in recliner chairs separated only by curtains, and shared bathroom facilities.
The report noted that some patients at The Havens had prior experiences of sexual abuse, and the Trust's practices failed to comply with the Department of Health's Elimination of Mixed Sex Accommodation policy from 2010. The CQC observed a male patient undressing due to extreme heat and lack of ventilation while patients of the opposite sex were present.
Another report, published in April, raised concerns about sexual safety at a rehabilitation center run by the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. This facility received an 'Inadequate' rating for safety, with staff failing to consistently protect individuals from abuse. In the six months preceding the report, 69 incidents were recorded, including six sexual safety incidents, six involving staff, ten cases of patients absconding, and two reports of lost or stolen items.
Critics argue that mixed-sex wards can be dehumanizing and frightening for patients, particularly the elderly. Following a sustained campaign, the government committed in 2010 to ending what were termed ‘wards of shame.’ A 2022 investigation by the Women's Rights Network identified thousands of reported rapes and sexual assaults within hospitals.
The NHS has stated its commitment to providing same-sex accommodation. While acknowledging that certain clinical circumstances may necessitate mixed accommodation, the organization recognizes the need to reverse the current trend and eliminate unjustified breaches. The NHS noted that ensuring privacy, dignity, and safety is essential, even when same-sex accommodation cannot be provided, especially during periods of extreme pressure on hospital services.