Written question asked by Sandra Gidley (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 16 May 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 May 2002. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Wednesday, 22 May 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will carry out an audit of the opinions of mental health service users in hospitals regarding mixed and single-sex wards.

Answer: Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will carry out an audit of the opinions of mental health service users in hospitals regarding mixed and single-sex wards. [58188] Jacqui Smith: The Department does not intend to carry out a national audit of the opinions of mental health service users regarding mixed and single sex hospital accommodation. The Department has set clear objectives for the elimination of mixed sex accommodation in mental health settings. National health service trust boards are responsible for putting in place policies and procedures to address patient safety, privacy and dignity. The Department's guidance to trusts sets out that NHS trust chief executives should ensure that local patient surveys are considered as a means of assessing patients' and relatives' views about services and to ascertain their concerns.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 58188; 386 c422W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Hospitals Gender Hospital wards Mental illness Privacy Public opinion Mental health services
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk