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Hospitals get mixed-sex ward fines | |
(6 days later) | |
Hospitals in England have been fined for keeping patients in mixed-sex accommodation under a new push to eradicate the problem. | Hospitals in England have been fined for keeping patients in mixed-sex accommodation under a new push to eradicate the problem. |
There were 2,660 breaches in April - half the number from the previous month, the Department of Health said. | There were 2,660 breaches in April - half the number from the previous month, the Department of Health said. |
Hospitals are fined £250 for each day a patient is kept in mixed-sex wards. | Hospitals are fined £250 for each day a patient is kept in mixed-sex wards. |
It means at least £665,000 of fines have been levied, although the sum could be higher as the data does not detail how long a breach has been for. | It means at least £665,000 of fines have been levied, although the sum could be higher as the data does not detail how long a breach has been for. |
Monitoring | Monitoring |
The government's drive on mixed-sex accommodation follows attempts by the previous administration to tackle the issue. | The government's drive on mixed-sex accommodation follows attempts by the previous administration to tackle the issue. |
Labour ministers struggled, partly because large chunks of the NHS estate date back decades and proved hard to convert. | Labour ministers struggled, partly because large chunks of the NHS estate date back decades and proved hard to convert. |
Extra money has now been ploughed in to the system to help build more single rooms to rectify this. | Extra money has now been ploughed in to the system to help build more single rooms to rectify this. |
April marked the first month the new fining system was applied. Previously, the levels of fines varied considerably depending on the treatment and were inconsistently levied. | April marked the first month the new fining system was applied. Previously, the levels of fines varied considerably depending on the treatment and were inconsistently levied. |
Over the past few months, the government has been publishing breach figures ahead of the start of the new fining system. These show the problem has been improving. | Over the past few months, the government has been publishing breach figures ahead of the start of the new fining system. These show the problem has been improving. |
In December there were more than 11,000 breaches. By March that had fallen to under 5,500. However that has to be seen in the context of the one million-plus patients seen each month. | In December there were more than 11,000 breaches. By March that had fallen to under 5,500. However that has to be seen in the context of the one million-plus patients seen each month. |
Single-sex accommodation means patients sharing sleeping, bathroom and toilet facilities only with people of the same sex. | Single-sex accommodation means patients sharing sleeping, bathroom and toilet facilities only with people of the same sex. |
The rules do allow wards to be segregated into distinct bays as long as they have separate facilities. | The rules do allow wards to be segregated into distinct bays as long as they have separate facilities. |
They apply to all trusts from acute hospitals to mental health units. Only intensive care and A&E are excused. | They apply to all trusts from acute hospitals to mental health units. Only intensive care and A&E are excused. |
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the downward trend was pleasing, but there were "still too many breaches". | Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the downward trend was pleasing, but there were "still too many breaches". |
He added all the fines would be reinvested back into patient care. | He added all the fines would be reinvested back into patient care. |
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