Mixed sex accommodation

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.

In line with the NHS Operating Framework for 2012-2013, we strive to eliminate mixed-sex accommodation and have established single-sex sections in all our hospitals, except where it is in the overall best interest of the patient. 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).

What is single-sex accommodation?

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)