Our declarations to you

Ipswich Hospital's Commitment to Same Sex Accomodation

‘People often feel at their most vulnerable when they are in hospital and being cared for in mixed sex accommodation can be deeply distressing’ Alan Johnson – January 2009.

The Department of Health’s guidance to trusts is that men and women should not have to share sleeping accommodation or toilet facilities.

Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust is committed to treating all patients with privacy and dignity in a safe, clean and comfortable environment.

Currently the majority of our patients sleep in single sex bays or in single rooms. The exception is in some high dependency areas where the condition of the patient warrants the input of specialised staff and interventions. Where mixing is unavoidable, transfer to single sex accommodation is effected as soon as possible. Only in the most exceptional circumstances should this exceed 24 hours. At Ipswich Hospital this is assessed by Senior Nursing Staff on a shift by shift basis
The Trust has recently undergone a major refurbishment of toilet, bathroom and day room facilities in some wards to further enhance the privacy and dignity of our patients.

Our monthly audit on the patient experience routinely captures the experience of patients with regard to Same Sex accommodation and we routinely get 100% compliance.