Single sex accomodation

Declaration of compliance -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 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.

What does this mean for patients?

Same sex-accommodation means:

• The room where your bed is will only have patients of the same sex as you
• Your toilet and bathroom will be just for your gender, and will be close to your bed area

It is possible that there will be both men and women patients on the ward, but they will not share your sleeping area. You may have to cross a ward corridor to reach your bathroom, but you will not have to walk through opposite-sex areas.

You may share some communal space, such as day rooms or dining rooms, and it is very likely that you will see both men and women patients as you move around the hospital (eg on your way to the therapies areas).

It is almost certain that both male and female nurses, doctors and other staff will come into your bed area.

If you need help to use the toilet or take a bath (eg you need a hoist or special bath) then you may be taken to a “unisex” bathroom used by both men and women, but a member of staff will be with you, and other patients will not be in the bathroom at the same time.

How will we measure success?

• The Trust is regulated by the Care Quality Commission to provide healthcare services and it is compliant with the essential standards for Quality and Safety.
• 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. We will publish the results of that audit in our Quality Accounts.
• As an organization we will ensure that our declaration of compliance is reported through the Quality report to Assurance Committee which is a subcommittee of the Board.
• Our Patient Experience Service receives compliments and concerns from patients, family and visitors on any aspects of care we provide – including the state of our facilities. The Trust welcomes the information provided through patient survey's to enable it to improve the quality of its services.

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

We want to know about your experiences.

Please either:

• Contact a Ward Manager on the respective wards if you have any comments or concerns to make.

Contact our Patient Experience Service via telephone 0800 013 2319 or email
snhs.solentfeedback@nhs.net