The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is committed to privacy and dignity in care.
If you are admitted to the Princess Royal Hospital or the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital then in most circumstances you will receive your inpatient care in Same Sex Accommodation
Same Sex Accommodation means:
- The bay or room where your bed is will only have patients of the same sex as you
- Your toilet and bathroom will be just for your gender, and will be close to your bed area
It is possible that there will be both men and women patients on the ward, but they will not normally share your sleeping area. You may have to cross a ward corridor to reach your bathroom, but you will not normally have to walk through opposite-sex areas.
You may share some communal space, such as day rooms or dining rooms, and it is very likely that you will see both men and women patients as you move around the hospital (e.g. on your way to X-ray or the operating theatre).
It is probable that visitors of the opposite gender will come into the room where your bed is, and this may include patients visiting each other.
It is almost certain that both male and female nurses, doctors and other staff will come into your bed area.
If you need help to use the toilet or take a bath (e.g. you need a hoist or special bath) then you may be taken to a “unisex" bathroom used by both men and women, but a member of staff will be with you, and other patients will not be in the bathroom at the same time.
The NHS will not turn patients away just because a “right-sex" bed is not immediately available.
There are times when your clinical care will take priority over providing same sex accommodation.
There are several areas in our hospital where the specialist or urgent nature of your care means that it may not be possible to offer same sex accommodation. This includes areas such as ITU and Critical Care Units. We will always do our best to meet your needs for privacy and dignity in these areas. Please talk to a member of staff who will be happy to help you.
If you receive care in a day treatment area (e.g. renal unit, chemotherapy day unit, day surgery) or in our children's services then you may be in an area with people of the opposite sex. For example, this may be in areas where you are in your own clothes or with patients with whom you have formed personal friendships. However, if you have any concerns please talk to a member of staff who will be happy to help you.
What do I do if I think I am not in same sex accommodation?
We want you to feel comfortable in our hospitals.
There may be circumstances where you are not in same sex accommodation because you need urgent access to specialist equipment or treatment. However, we will always aim to discuss this with you so that you understand the reasons, and we can help you to maintain your privacy and dignity.
Please talk to a member of staff in your ward or department. Or, please contact the Trust Patient Advice and Liaison Service if you have any comments or concerns that cannot be resolved with the staff who are caring for you.
You can find out more about same sex accommodation in our Delivering Same Sex Accommodation Declaration of Compliance.
You can find out more about our plans and priorities to improve patient experience, safety and effectiveness in the quality section of our website.