Labour has failed to stop mixed-sex NHS hospital wards despite promising to do so for 12 years, the Health Secretary Alan Johnson has admitted.

Labour has failed to stop mixed sex wards, admits Health Secretary Alan Johnson
article in the Telegraph

Extract:

"Mr Johnson told a meeting of senior NHS executives that ministers had "got it wrong" and "sane and rational arguments about why it can't be done no longer cut it", a regional health boss claims.

The Government promised before the 1997 and 2001 elections to end the practice of male and female patients being forced to share a ward.

Yet another fresh attempt to stop the practice is soon to be launched by ministers, according to the account of the meeting by Graham Eccles, the chief executive of the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority. Mr Johnson is expected to unveil a new initiative on the issue next week.

Last month data from the Conservatives disclosed that about one in seven of hospital trusts still used at least one open-plan mixed-sex ward. Curtains were still being to segregate patients in some areas, it was discovered."