MIXED-sex accommodation has virtually been eliminated at Fairfield Hospital.

Patients now admitted to the hospital will benefit from recent measures designed to ensure they will only share a ward or room with members of the same sex.

Same-sex toilets and bathrooms will also be close to their bed area.

The Department of Health’s Delivering Same-Sex Accommodation (SSA) programme aims to eliminate mixed-sex accommodation from Hospitals in England this year, as part of the NHS’ commitment to delivering safe care with privacy and dignity.

All providers of NHS-funded care were required to make an SSA declaration of compliance by the end of March.

Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (PAT) say that sharing with members of the opposite sex will only happen in emergency situations or by exception based on clinical need.

As part of its strategy to meet the national standards, PAT has undertaken an extensive programme of upgrading wards and clinical units across its four main hospitals, which include North Manchester, Royal Oldham Rochdale Infirmary.

All wards now offer a questionnaire to all patients who are discharged on the third Friday of each month regarding their experience of accommodation as inpatients.

Marian Carroll, PAT director of nursing, said: “Protecting patients’ privacy and dignity is an essential part of delivering high-quality care.

“Sharing accommodation with the opposite sex can undermine privacy and dignity at a time when patients are already feeling vulnerable.

“In its simplest terms, patients should not normally have to share sleeping accommodation or sanitary facilities with members of the opposite sex.

“This applies to all areas of hospital care. However, there may be times when it is acceptable for men and women to be treated together, such as when they are receiving intensive care, urgent or emergency care.

“Where mixing does occur, it must be in the interest of all the patients affected.”

She added: “The eradication of mixed-sex accommodation is crucial to improving patients’ experience and will continue to be a priority for 2010 and beyond.”