Single Sex Accommodation in Sheffield

Updated: 22 March 2011

The NHS Operating Framework 2011/12 requires all providers of NHS funded care to confirm whether they are compliant with the national definition to "Eliminate mixed sex accommodation except where it is in the best overall interests of the patient, or reflects patients choice."

NHS Sheffield is committed to delivering the highest level of privacy and dignity as well as choice for patients who use health services in the city. We are continually looking to improve facilities to enable patients to be treated in single sex accommodation.

NHS Sheffield is pleased to confirm that Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield Children’s Hospitals, Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust will all declare on April 1st 2011, that they are compliant with the government’s requirement to eliminate mixed sex accommodation.

We’ve already carefully looked at what trusts currently offer and continue to work on action plans with them to ensure they continue to address any issues they have.

The feedback we’ve had so far has also highlighted that while we want to improve the overall quality of facilities, this needs to be managed carefully to ensure there are no adverse impacts on:

new building and refurbishment costs
quality of care delivered by professional teams
Patient safety issues, such as measures to prevent and control infection.

With effect from 1st April 2011 all trusts are required to have undertaken a self assessment to determine their compliance with the requirement to eliminate mixed sex accommodation. Additionally trusts must produce a delivery plan, and report any breaches via a national reporting system monthly which is monitored by NHS Sheffield on a monthly basis.

You can find information about Trust's single sex accommodation projects, their declarations of compliance and delivery plans on their websites:

Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sheffield PCT - Provider Services