Single Sex Accommodation

NHS Wakefield District is committed to ensure that we commission services that meet the privacy and dignity needs of our patients.

This includes making sure that all services provide care that meets the principles of delivering same sex accommodation, which are:

• There are no exemptions from the need to provide high standards of privacy and dignity
• Men and women should not have to sleep in the same room, unless sharing can be justified by the need for treatment, or by patient/service user choice
• Men and women should not have to share mixed bathing and WC facilities, unless they need specialised equipment such as hoist or specialist baths
• Patients/service users should not have to pass directly through opposite-sex areas to reach their own facilities In some circumstances, mixing of the sexes can be justified
• Decisions should be based on the needs of each individual patient/service user, not the constraints of the environment or the convenience of staff
• Where mixing of sexes does occur, it must be acceptable and appropriate for all the patients/service users affected.

Mental health and learning disability inpatient services only

• Men and women do not share bedrooms or bed bays
• The widening of women only day space provision

NHS Wakefield District is able to declare that it's directly provided services are 100% compliant with the above principles.

NHS Wakefield District has also ensured that our commissioned services have declared virtual compliance as required by the Department of Heath, and have published their declaration and sustainability plans on their websites.