70 per cent of the
NHS now free from mixed sex accommodation
Mixed sex accommodation in the NHS has fallen by over 90 per cent
in under a year, according to new data published by the Department
of Health today.
The latest statistics show that unjustified breaches of rules on
mixed sex accommodation have fallen from nearly 12,000 to just
over 1,000 in just ten months.
A record number of hospitals have also reported zero cases – 117
out of 167 Acute Trusts in September 2011, compared with just 77
Trusts in December 2010. And no patients in the North East had to
suffer the indignity of sharing accommodation with the opposite sex.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:
“This fantastic achievement shows just how important it is to
improve transparency in the NHS. The figures published by the
previous Government did not reflect the true extent of the problem
- but by publishing regular and reliable data, we have shone a
light on bad performance with the result of over 10,000 fewer
breaches of the rules on mixed sex accommodation for patients.
“But despite this huge improvement for patients, nobody should
have to suffer the indignity of mixed sex accommodation. Every
unjustified breach is one too many and I urge those hospitals that
have still to tackle this problem to look at the improvements in
other hospitals and follow them. If they don’t, they will face
fines of £250 for every breach.”
Notes to editors
1. A full statistical press notice with further explanatory
notes, and detailed tables by provider and commissioner can be
found at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/MixedSexAccommodation/index.htm
2. A breach of the mixed sex accommodation policy occurs each
time an admitted patient is placed in mixed sex accommodation when
it is not in their overall best interests and/or does not reflect
their personal choice.
3. Fines are set through the contracts between commissioning
(PCTs) and provider organisations (acute, community and mental
health trusts). Prior to June 2010, the contract requirements
stipulated that any breaches would incur a fine however short the
breach, equivalent to the cost of the service or treatment for the
procedure in question. For example, a patient in hospital for a
hip operation would incur a fine of £5600, but a patient in
hospital for a hernia operation, would incur a fine of £959. Under
this system fines could vary dramatically and there is little
evidence of them being applied where breaches occurred. In the
period from August to January, the Department worked to strengthen
the system within the current contract, so that commissioners
would have the discretion on the level of fine they could impose
to take into account for example the length of time of the breach.
This strengthened the system by ensuring there were no longer
excuses for more proportionate fines not being applied. The new
contract begun in April 2011
will simplify and strengthen
sanctions further - a flat rate of £250 per patient affected per
day will be charged. It will be kept under regular review to
ensure it is fair and appropriate.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk