Mixed-sex accommodation breaches drop to record low

The Department of Health has revealed that mixed-sex accommodation breaches among English hospitals have dropped to their lowest level ever.

Only 160 occasions where patients were unjustifiably placed in mixed-sex accommodation occurred in August 2012, representing the fourth consecutive month of declines and a 36 percent fall compared to July 2012.

It means that the number of breaches has fallen by 99 percent since the government began monitoring this issue in December 2010, when the overall figure stood at 11,802.

Of the trusts surveyed, 84 percent were able to report zero breaches, due to the fact that hospitals which still place patients in mixed-sex accommodation face fines of 250 pounds per patient, per day for every breach.

Health minister Dr Dan Poulter said: "Nobody should have to suffer the indignity of mixed-sex accommodation … I am pleased that we are making good progress and improving dignity for patients."

Measures to stamp out this practice has been a key priority for the coalition government since 2010, due to the stress and indignity it can cause for patients.