Written question asked by Bill Wiggin (Conservative) on Thursday, 4 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 July 2002. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Thursday, 18 July 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress the Government has made in eliminating single sex wards; what plans he has to eliminate them; and if he will make a statement. - Includes figure.

Answer: Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress the Government have made in eliminating single sex wards; what plans he has to eliminate them; and if he will make a statement. [68536] Mr. Hutton: Guidance on maintaining privacy and dignity was first issued to the service in 1997 and since then the national health service has been working towards a clear target to provide single sex accommodation. The target set is for three objectives to be achieved in 95 per cent. of trusts by December 2002. The three objectives are: Ensuring that appropriate organisational arrangements are in place to secure good standards of privacy and dignity for hospital patients; Achieving fully the Patient's Charter standard for segregated washing and toilet facilities across the NHS; Providing safe facilities for patients in hospital who are mentally ill which safeguard their privacy and dignity. Trusts are required to re-assess and report their position annually. This information has been collected through health authorities. Separate validation programmes are undertaken to ensure that information provided is robust and reliable. We are working with the NHS to provide professional and technical support to ensure progress towards meeting this target continues.

Secondary information