Delivering same-sex accommodation

We are proud to confirm that mixed-sex accommodation has been virtually 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. Imperial College Healthcare NHS 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.

We are proud to confirm that mixed-sex accommodation has been virtually eliminated in our trust. Patients who are admitted to any of 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 by exception based on clinical need (for example where patients need specialist equipment such as in intensive care units and high dependence units) or when patients choose to share (for example in the renal unit).

Delivering single-sex accommodation is also part of our three-year nursing and midwifery strategy.

What is single-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)

Responsibility for reducing mixed-sex accommodation at the Trust lies with our clinical programme committee, a sub-committee of the Trust board.