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Patients: Same sex accommodation

Delivering Same-Sex Accommodation - Declaration of Compliance 2012

We are proud to confirm that mixed sex accommodation has been virtually eliminated in both our hospitals.

The Hillingdon Hospital 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 the Intensive Care Unit and the Coronary Care Unit, or when patients actively choose to share).

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 on our Trust Internet Page.

What is same sex accommodation?

London's strategic health authority, NHS London, defines single-sex accommodation as follows:

  • Single-sex wards (i.e. the whole ward is occupied by either men or women, but not both)
  • Single rooms with adjacent single-sex toilet and washing facilities (preferably en-suite)
  • Single-sex accommodation within mixed wards (i.e. bays or rooms that accommodate either men or women, not both, with designated single-sex toilet and washing facilities, preferably within or adjacent to the bay or room)

Improving same sex accommodation at the Trust

The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has carried out comprehensive reviews in relation to same sex accommodation, and has recently received a privacy and dignity grant as part of a national initiative. This has enabled us to undertake an ambitious programme of work across the Trust to improve our standard of same sex accommodation mostly through the reconfiguration of wards to segregate male and female sleeping areas and the provision of same sex toilets and bathrooms.

What you should expect

For routine, planned admissions, patients can expect to stay in same sex bay accommodation. There may be situations when the need to provide highly specialised care takes priority over segregation. For example: If you need immediate or urgent investigation and intervention or cardiac monitoring you may be admitted to one of our specialist areas such as the Intensive Care Unit, the High Dependency Unit or the Coronary Care Unit. This ensures that you are in the safest clinical environment for the level of care that you require at this time. We review all our wards and specialist departments throughout each 24 hour period to ensure that we are complying with the Department of Health guidance.

Should you require care in mixed sex accommodation we will explain why this is happening to you and your relatives or carers, we will ensure that your dignity is respected at all times. Once your condition has improved and we believe it is safe to transfer you, we will make every effort to place you in a same sex bay on the appropriate ward for your medical condition.

Patient Leaflets (pdf, open new windows)

arrowSame Sex Bays (170KB)
arrowSame Sex Accomodation (Easy Read) (57KB - From Department of Health)
arrowPrivacy and Dignity - Children's Wards (191KB)

For further information please contact our Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS) 01895 279973.

Monitoring and reporting

Our inpatient survey of patient experience now has two additional questions related to same sex sleeping and toilet facilities, we also carefully review any complaints or concerns raised by patients. In addition breaches in compliance are reported to divisional managers weekly and a monthly report on these and several other indicators is received by the Clinical Quality and Standards Committee.