Great Western Hospitals

Improving privacy and dignity

Statement of compliance

Patients have a right to be treated with dignity and respect when they come to us for treatment. These rights are set out in the NHS Constitution.

The Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to eliminating mixed sex accommodation and this is what patients can expect from our hospitals:

In the Great Western Hospital

• All general wards have single sex bays and dedicated washing and toilet facilities
• The High Dependency wards, Intensive Care Unit and Cardiac Ward have single room accommodation
• In our Acute Assessment Unit we aim to provide six single sex bays, however, on exception sharing with the opposite sex may occur based on a clinical need if this is in a patient's best interest, for example where patients need specialist equipment or care in a specialist ward or department. We will not turn patients away because same-sex accommodation is not immediately available.

In our Community Hospitals (Savernake, Chippenham, Warminster)

• In all of our Community Hospitals we have single sex bays and dedicated washing and toilet facilities.

Background

National surveys show that patients do not want to share sleeping accommodation or washing facilities with someone of the opposite sex. 

To address this, in early 2009 the Department of Health (DH) published clear guidelines setting out how all NHS hospitals should eliminate the use of mixed sex accommodation and washing facilities to help maintain patients' privacy and dignity.

Following a thorough review of the way we provide sleeping accommodation and washing facilities at the Great Western Hospital and in our Community Hospitals, we are fully compliant with the DH guidelines.

What does this mean for patients?

Same sex accommodation is where men and women do not share sleeping or washing facilities.

Same sex accommodation can be provided in:

• Single rooms
• A ward where men and women sleep in separate bays 
• Men and women have access to separate washing and toilet facilities

There are exceptions to these definitions as our priority is to make sure patients have prompt access to the best treatment.  In some circumstances patients may be treated in mixed sex accommodation and this is where they require urgent/emergency assessment and care.

Where this happens, patients will be moved to same sex accommodation as soon as possible and staff will ensure they protect each patient's privacy and dignity. Exceptions are closely monitored by the Modern Matron and Chief Nurse.

What have we done to improve patient experience?

We have made the following changes to improve the quality of care and the patient experience (which includes treating all our patients with dignity and respect):

• Redesigned Woodpecker Ward to create a surgical assessment area so that the four bedded bays are same sex.
• All general wards have separate four bedded bays for men and women, with separate, en-suite, bathroom facilities. 
• Gynaecology surgery and unwell children are admitted to Gynaecology and Children's Wards. 
• Critical care areas (Intensive Care Unit and Acute Cardiology) have single rooms/bays and washing/toilet facilities are adjusted according to male/female requirements with adjustable door signs.
• The Acute Assessment Unit (which assesses urgent/emergency patients) moves patients to create male or female four bedded bays.  This is needed because of the varying number of male or female admissions at any one time.
• Refurbished and redesigned Cedar Ward at Chippenham Community Hospital

What do patients say about us?

The latest annual survey shows that fewer patients have reported that they shared a sleeping area, washing or toilet facilities with the opposite sex. 

We will continue to look at ways patients' privacy and dignity can be protected and will continue to monitor this and ask for your views through patient surveys and other feedback.