Mixed wards ban flouted at hospitals

Hospitals in the West Midlands are continuing to place patients in mixed sex wards, despite a Government ban imposed last month.

The hospitals have now been fined tens of thousands of pounds for failing to ensure male and female patients are kept apart during treatment.

NHS hospitals were given a deadline of April 1 to bring in single sex wards - and warned they would receive a £250 flat fine per patient per day.

But figures today reveal more than 200 patients across the region were forced to stay in mixed sex accomodation during the first month of the Government's new zero-tolerance stance.

The worst offender was the trust that runs Sandwell, Rowley Regis and City hospitals, which had 75 breaches.

This resulted in a fine of £18,750 but the trust says it has managed to negotiate a deal to avoid paying while it works to change one ward.

Walsall's Manor Hospital had 44 patients sleeping in mixed-sex wards and has been forced to pay an £11,000 fine.

Troubled Stafford Hospital, which is £14 million in the red and subject to a public inquiry into poor care, had 32 breaches. It faces an £8,000 fine but is attempting to overturn it because work to create single sex wards is not complete .

New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton had just one breach and faces a £250 fine. Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley met the Government target and will not be fined.

Across the UK there were 2,660 breaches in April, with fines of £665,000.

Sue Hartley, director of nursing at Walsall Manor, said pressure had made the breaches "unavoidable". She added: "The privacy and dignity of our patients remains a priority and we will continue to take this matter very seriously."

A spokesman for the Department of Health said the £250 fines were compulsory.