Clampdown on mixed-sex wards

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Alan Johnson unveiled a tough package of measures aimed at eliminating mixed-sex accommodation in the NHS except in exceptional circumstances.

He said such accommodation was "totally incompatible" with the NHS's focus on quality, dignity and respect. Exception to the rule will be decided on a case-by-case basis but men and women being treated in intensive care, A&E and some medical assessment units will still be able to be treated together.

Speaking at a conference in central London, Mr Johnson said: "I want to make it clear today that mixed-sex accommodation is no longer tolerable in the NHS, except when it is absolutely clinically necessary.

"From 2010/11 hospitals who fail in their duty to protect patients' privacy by allowing mixed-sex accommodation where it is not clinically necessary will be financially penalised. We will not pay for care that has taken place in mixed-sex accommodation unless it can be clinically justified."

NHS Trusts will be urged to act swiftly and the Government is setting up a £100 million ringfenced Privacy and Dignity Fund to help them make improvements to hospital accommodation over the next six months.

The tough action comes after a leaked memo last week revealed that the Government was "rattled" over its failure to scrap mixed-sex accommodation.

In the document, Mr Johnson is quoted as saying Labour has "got it wrong" over the practice, which the Government has repeatedly said it will eradicate.

Earlier this month, the Tories obtained data under the Freedom of Information Act which showed that many Trusts were unable to fully meet government guidelines on eliminating mixed-sex accommodation on hospital wards.

The announcement by the Health Secretary reiterates the pledge that men and women will not have to share sleeping accommodation or toilet facilities in NHS hospitals.