Dozens of Yorkshire patients have had to share wards with members of the opposite sex, despite a rule banning the practice.
According to NHS England data, 11 out of 24 health care trusts looking after patients in the Yorkshire area breached the rule last year. Nationally, breaches have more than doubled in five years, from 19,700 in the year ending November 2019 to 49,100 last year, marking the highest figure in a 12-month span with complete data available.
The NHS rule, introduced in 2010, requires hospitals to eliminate mixed-sex wards except under specific conditions, such as patient consent or the need for specialised care. The rule of single-sex accommodation applies to any area where patients are admitted on beds or trolleys, even if they do not stay overnight.
While there was an initial decline in breaches across England, figures have been climbing since 2014, with COVID-19 contributing to a significant increase over the past five years. It’s important to note that data collection was paused from March 2020 to September 2021 due to the pandemic, and the policy to fine trusts £250 for each breach was abandoned in April 2021.
The number of times each health trust serving Yorkshire patients broke the rule in the last year ending in November is detailed in the list below.
- Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust: 0; three in 2019
- Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust: 0
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust: 2,402; 27 in 2019
- Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust: 0
- Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust: 0; 7 in 2019
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 0; twice in 2019
- Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust: 0
- Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: 11; 0 in 2019
- Bradford District NHS Foundation Trust: 5; 0 in 2019
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 0
- Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust: 0
- Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust: 17; 0 in 2019
- Airedale NHS Foundation Trust: 26; twice in 2019
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: 35; 0 in 2019
- Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust: 0
- Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust: 0
- The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust: 7; 0 in 2019
- South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 495; once in 2019
- South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust: 0
- Humber NHS Foundation Trust: 0
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust: twice, 0 in 2019
- Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 46; 0 in 2019
- Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 0
- Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust: 37; 59 in 2019
Rachel Power, CEO of the Patients’ Association, expressed her concern, saying: “The alarming increase in breaches of mixed-sex accommodation is deeply concerning for patients. While we recognise the immense pressures currently facing the NHS, compromises to patient dignity and privacy are unacceptable and should not become the norm. The Government and NHS England leaders must urgently work together to prioritise dignified care, ensuring all patients are treated with the respect and privacy they deserve.”
A spokesperson for NHS England said: “The NHS is committed to offering same sex accommodation and there is more to do to eliminate unjustified breaches. We recognise this is challenging for NHS trusts, especially at times of extreme pressures on services and ensuring the privacy and dignity of patients remains paramount when same sex accommodation cannot be provided.”
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