THE NHS trust that runs the QE2 and Lister Hospitals says it already confirms to a new Government policy that vows to bring an end to mixed sex wards.
It was announced this week that hospitals could face fines from January 2011 onwards, if they fail to treat patients in single sex wards.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said that, bar intensive care units, A&E and some observation wards, all mixed sex wards should be axed by the turn of the year.
It is estimated that, across the UK as a whole, one in 10 hospital wards remain mixed sex.
But the East and North Herts NHS Trust, which runs the QE2 Hospital in WGC and the Lister in Stevenage, has insisted it already conforms to this new policy.
A trust spokesman said: “There is nothing that we can see that suggests we won’t be compliant.”
Announcing the new policy, Mr Lansley said: “Patients should not suffer the indignity of being cared for in mixed sex accommodation.”
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