Single sex accommodation

Solent NHS Trust Self Declaration on Same Sex Accommodation - our commitment to deliver same-sex accommodation

Solent NHS 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 can confirm that there have been no breaches.

Delivering single sex accommodation simply means providing an environment where men and women do not share sleeping accommodation and bathroom and toilet facilities.

Solent is committed to providing accommodation that complies with the delivering same sex accommodation standards and considers these to be a key factor in maximising patient privacy, dignity and respect.

• There are no exemptions from the need to provide high standards of privacy and dignity
• Men and women should not have to sleep in the same room, unless sharing can be justified by the need for treatment or by patient choice. Decisions should be based on the needs of each individual not the constraints of the environment, nor the convenience of staff.
• Men and women should not have to share toilet and washing facilities with the opposite sex, unless they need specialised equipment such as hoists or specialist baths.
• Men and women should not have to walk through the bedrooms/ bed bays or bathroom/ toilets of the opposite sex to reach their own sleeping, washing, toilet facilities.

What does this mean for patients?

Patients who are admitted to any of Solent NHS Trusts’ wards can expect the following:

• The room where you sleep will only have patients of the same sex as you

• Transgender patients/service users should be accommodated in the same ward areas as your chosen gender

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  All toilet and bathroom facilities will just be for people of the same sex as you and if it is not en-suite will be close to your bed area.

In all our wards there will be both male and female patients but patients of the opposite gender will not share your sleeping area. However, you may have to cross a ward corridor to reach your bathroom, but you will not have to walk through the opposite-sex area.

Any breach of same sex sleeping accommodation will be reported as an incident and highlighted to the Trust Board. Breaches will also be reported to the CQC in line with regulation.

What do I do if I think I am in mixed-sex accommodation?

If you have any concerns about your accommodation being “mixed sex” during your admission, please ask to speak to the nurse in charge on your ward or alternatively contact our Patient Advise and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 013 2319.