Mixed sex bays have been “virtually eliminated” at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford’s Princess Royal, it is claimed.

Patients will only share facilities with members of the opposite sex in exceptional cases, for example if they need to be treated in the intensive and coronary care units.

It is hoped sharing with the the opposite sex will only happen on an exceptional basis due to clinical need, or if people choose to share.

Wards within the trust are split into single sex bays, where patients mostly have access to single sex  toilets and washing facilities. However in some emergency areas patients will be placed in mixed sex bays.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust board will be asked on Thursday to accept a formal declaration that the organisation is complying with Government demands to get rid of mixed sex accommodation.

A paper to the board says: “When we are ill, we want care, rest and comfort in pleasant hospital surroundings, and to know that healthcare staff will do all that they can to protect our privacy and dignity.

“Patients and staff have told us that this is a particularly important issue for them.

“Being with other patients of the same sex is an important part of privacy and dignity.

“This is why we aim to provide same sex accommodation for virtually all admitted patients.”

Same sex accommodation is defined as:

• Same sex bays or rooms with designated same sex toilets and washing facilities, preferably within or next to the bay or room.

• Same sex wards (the whole ward is occupied by all men or all women but not both).

But referring to paediatric services, the paper says that Department of Health guidance recognises that for many children and young people, clinical need and age, and stage of development, may take precedence over “gender considerations” and mixing of the sexes is reasonable, or may even be preferred.

“There is evidence that many young people find great comfort from sharing with others of their own age and often this outweighs their concerns about mixed sex rooms,” says the paper.

“Young people should be given the choice.”

The declaration the board is being asked to approve also states: “We are proud to confirm that mixed sex accommodation has been virtually eliminated in our trust.

“If you are admitted to any of our hospitals you will normally share the bay or room where you sleep, with members of the same sex, and the same sex toilets and bathrooms will be close to your bed area.”

By Dave Morris