We are proud to confirm that mixed sex accommodation has been eliminated in all our hospitals
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to confirm that we are compliant with the Government’s requirement to eliminate mixed-sex accommodation, except when it is in the patient’s overall best interest, or reflects their personal choice.
We have the necessary facilities, resources and culture to ensure that patients who are admitted to our hospitals will only share the room where they sleep with members of the same sex, and same-sex toilets and bathrooms will be close to their bed area. Sharing with members of the opposite sex will only happen when clinically necessary (for example where patients need specialist equipment such as in emergency or critical care areas), or when patients actively choose to share.
If our care should fall short of the required standard, we will report it. We will also set up an audit mechanism to make sure that we do not misclassify any of our reports.
As part of our commitment to providing high quality care to patients, there is currently work taking place across our Trust to ensure that patients’ privacy and dignity concerns are met. The Trust has been making improvements to eliminate mixed sex accommodation. This means that there are separate male and female sleeping, bathing and toileting facilities on all of our wards and units in our hospitals.
In May 2009 we received a £540,000 cash boost to improve privacy and dignity for patients from the Department of Health’s £100m Challenge Fund aimed at eliminating mixed sex accommodation. The Trust also invested an additional £100,000 to support the scheme. We have continued to develop and enhance our patient areas to improve your dignity and privacy.
When visiting our hospitals, you may notice some building work or more minor changes taking place in order to continue to enhance our facilities and you will also see posters and leaflets around the hospitals which explain the scheme in more detail.
Marie Thompson, Director of Nursing and Quality, said: “This is really great news for patients.
“The money was allocated in 2009 to help us fulfil our pledge to provide the highest quality health care to our local population whilst ensuring their privacy and dignity is maintained, since then we have continued to enhance the privacy and dignity of our patients by;
“This is an area that is really important to patients and can make a huge difference to their overall hospital experience.”