Hospital sticks to single sex wards (From Hereford Times)

Hospital sticks to single sex wards

9:25am Monday 11th February 2008 in

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HEREFORD County Hospital has confirmed that it is sticking to its separate sex wards policy, despite the comments of a government health minister.

Lord Darzi of Denham told the House of Lords that the elimination of mixed-sex wards was "an aspiration that cannot be met".

He said it could only be achieved by splitting up mixed wards into bays.

His comments have caused many organisations which have fought for separate wards for men and women to react angrily and to accuse the government of a U-turn.

The Hereford Times campaigned for separate wards at the County Hospital, which produced some of the heaviest mail received on any subject.

The government later ordered that all hospitals should eliminate mixed wards and gave a fixed date for this to happen.

Hereford County Hospital achieved this more than two years ago, ahead of schedule but it is claimed that 35% of hospitals have not done so.

County Hospital spokeswoman Katrina Wilcox said the hospital would continue with its single sex wards as at present.

Men and women could be together in the admissions ward until they had been assessed and moved to the right wards, and while patients were in intensive care.

And there could be times during an emergency where mixing people was unavoidable and the only way of giving them a hospital bed.