Delivering Same-Sex Accommodation Declaration of Compliance

Further information on our work to deliver same sex accommodation What does this mean for patients? What are our plans for the future? How will we measure success? What do I do if I think I am in mixed sex accommodation? Documents

We are proud to confirm that mixed sex accommodation has been virtually eliminated in all our NHS inpatient accommodation for NHS Bedfordshire’s commissioned services.

Further information on our work to deliver same sex accommodation

Every patient has the right to receive high quality care that is safe, effective and respects their privacy and dignity. NHS Bedfordshire’s Providers: Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, Bedfordshire Community Health Services and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust – SEPT, providing partnership services in Bedfordshire, Essex and Luton (formerly Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health and Social Care Partnership Trust) are 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 Provider Trusts. 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 Bedford Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), or when patients choose to share.

What does this mean for patients?

Other than in the circumstances set out above, patients admitted to Bedford Hospital NHS Trust; Bedfordshire Community Health Services; and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust – SEPT, Providing Partnership Services in Bedfordshire, Essex and Luton, can expect to find the following:-

Same sex-accommodation means:

The room where your bed is will only have patients of the same sex as you
Your toilet and bathroom will be just for your gender, and will be close to your bed area

It is possible that there will be both men and women patients on the ward, but they will not share your sleeping area. You may have to cross a ward corridor to reach your bathroom, but you will not have to walk through opposite-sex areas.

You may share some communal space, such as day rooms or dining rooms, and it is very likely that you will see both men and women patients as you move around the hospital (e.g. on your way to X-ray or the operating theatre).

It is probable that visitors of the opposite gender will come into the room where your bed is, and this may include patients visiting each other.

It is almost certain that both male and female nurses, doctors and other staff will come into your bed area.

If you need help to use the toilet or take a bath (e.g. you need a hoist or special bath) then you may be taken to a “unisex” bathroom used by both men and women, but a member of staff will be with you, and other patients will not be in the bathroom at the same time.

The NHS will not turn patients away just because a “right-sex” bed is not immediately available

What are our plans for the future?

Each of our Providers’ service specific plans can be found on their websites and NHS Bedfordshire will ensure continued compliance to same sex accommodation principles and ongoing development and improvement against the wider privacy and dignity agenda as follows: -

NHS Bedfordshire has a plan to ensure ongoing compliance and improvement including addressing service delivery issues and considering future pathway developments meet the required principles to deliver this agenda.
A process is in place to ensure that any breaches or decisions to mix are investigated at the appropriate level, any lessons learned and actions arising are assessed for efficacy and implemented to prevent reoccurrence.
NHS Bedfordshire will visit sites to ensure continued same sex accommodation compliance and promoting and ensuring privacy and dignity principles remain paramount within the organisation’s culture.
When visiting Provider organisations for other reasons, same sex accommodation / privacy and dignity issues will also be monitored.
Provider patient experience survey results will also be utilised to inform this agenda in terms of actions or improvements required and monitored.
Reporting will be through our current Quality Monitoring processes where evidenced reports are submitted and meetings held quarterly. In addition, internal informal meetings are held with Providers whereby more regular interim updates and support will be provided.
The quality monitoring process reports are taken to NHS Bedfordshire’s Integrated Governance Committee and Trust Board to ensure awareness, commitment and scrutiny at the highest level.
The Same Sex Accommodation Exception form provides an additional method of ongoing monitoring on a weekly basis for clinically justifiable breach reporting. From 1 April 2010 the Same Sex Accommodation Exception form will be a requirement of and set within Provider contracts and as such, breaches will be subject to contract penalty implications. Any exceptions will require a root cause analysis to be carried out and actions identified to prevent reoccurrence.

NHS Bedfordshire’s plan for comprehensive monitoring is outlined above and also by application of our existing assurance processes to ensure improvements, prevent reoccurrences and support increased patient satisfaction.

How will we measure success?

The process by which NHS Bedfordshire was assured that our Providers were delivering same sex accommodation compliant in the four key areas of patient experience; estates; systems; and processes and culture, is outlined in our Commissioning DSSA Report below.

NHS Bedfordshire’s current quality monitoring process ensures scrutiny of all areas of quality and Provider’s delivering same sex accommodation achievement will be incorporated within this process. This includes trend analysis, Provider’s self audit and external audit process incorporating re-audit by NHS Bedfordshire and Provider action plans against delivering same sex accommodation principles. Formal assessment will occur quarterly with evidence gathered from a variety of sources including exception reports, incident reporting, patient satisfaction surveys (national, local and near real time), Provider progress against ongoing action plans, PALS enquiries and patient group feedback. Achievement is measured against the Quality Schedule which is based on CQC registration requirements and forms part of Provider contracts. This process is carried out in partnership with NHS Bedfordshire’s Providers. Quarterly progress is reported to NHS Bedfordshire’s Trust Board as described in our ‘plans for the future’ above.

The process by which Provider’s success will be measured will incorporate dynamic goals reflecting ongoing achievement and NHS Bedfordshire will support continued development. Different methods may emerge regarding how this process can be assessed and supported throughout the year and these will be integrated within our current system.

What do I do if I think I am in mixed sex accommodation?

We want to know about your experiences. Please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) if you have any comments or concerns.
Telephone 01234 409 432 (normal hours 9am - 5.30pm, Monday to Friday).

A voicemail system operates at busy times and out of hours and we will endeavour to return your call by the next working day.

Secure Fax: 01234 795 897
Email: PALS@bedfordshire.nhs.uk
Write to:
The PALS Service
NHS Bedfordshire
Gilbert Hitchcock House
21 Kimbolton Road
Bedford MK40 2AW
Comment cards are also available at all our sites.