Reacting to the announcement of £100 million to be made available to end the practice of mixed sex wards and to the introduction of financial penalties for hospitals who fail to meet NHS single sex toilet and accommodation guide lines, Paul Cann, Director of Policy and external relations for Help the Aged, says: 

'This is an encouraging step forward by the Government towards bringing better dignity to our hospitals. Tony Blair said in a 1996 speech that it should not be ‘beyond the collective wit of government and health administrators’ to eliminate mixed-sex wards from the NHS.’ Thirteen years later the Government is finally moving towards mustering that wit and addressing the problem. 

'For many older people having to walk past members of the opposite sex in a hospital gown or use a unisex toilet is nothing short of humiliating. Dignity is vital to all patients and older people tell us that privacy is crucial. We now need to see more measurable progress in vital aspects of dignity. 

'How this money is used will be key. Single sex wards may be out of this price range but the goal of single sex accommodation may be possible. This money should be used to end the practice of unisex bathrooms and toilets. It should ensure that where wards must be shared, proper privacy can be maintained with more than a flimsy curtain as a divider. Members of the opposite sex should never be asked to share accommodation bays or be exposed before other patients. We can hope that the threat of financial penalties will force all health trusts to improve the dignity of their patients.'