About the Trust

Same Sex Accommodation Declaration of Compliance

"We are proud to confirm that mixed sex accommodation has been eliminated in all our hospitals"

Every patient has the right to receive high quality care that is safe, effective and respects their privacy and dignity. The Northern Lincolnshire & Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing every patient with same sex accommodation, because it helps to safeguard their privacy and dignity when they are often at their most vulnerable.

The Trust continues to work in accordance with guidance issued since 2007 and has been working to improve privacy and dignity within clinical facilities, particularly focusing on ensuring that:

• Men and women have separate sleeping areas (eg single sex bays) and
• Separate toilets and bathrooms that they can reach without having to pass through (or close to) opposite sex areas.

Declaration of compliance (2012)

Northern Lincolnshire & Goole 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 Coronary Care, Intensive Care, High Observation Bays, or when patients actively choose to share (for instance children services).

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 at the Quality Contracts Group.

What does this mean for patients?

Other than in the circumstances set out above, patients admitted to Northern Lincolnshire & Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust can expect to find the following:

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 (e.g. on your way to X-ray or the operating theatre).

It is probable that visitors of the opposite gender will come into the room where your bed is, and this may include patients visiting each other.

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 (e.g. 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.

The NHS will not turn patients away just because a “right-sex” bed is not immediately available

What are our plans for the future?

Northern Lincolnshire & Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will continue to improve its facilities for patients as we upgrade our estate. We continue to look at new ways to listen to our patients by moving a system that will allow us to benefit from real time patient experience feedback. This will in turn allow us to respond more timely to put things right.

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

We want to know about your experiences. Please contact the Ward Manager or Matron if you have any comments or concerns.