Mixed-sex wards and patient dignity: nurses’ and patients’ perspectives

With the exception of specialized units, adults have historically been cared for in single-sex hospital wards in the UK. However, over the past two decades, concerns about mixed-sex wards have been reported. Respect and dignity are essential to provide high-quality health care. The issue of whether patients' privacy and dignity are compromised by mixed-sex wards is addressed in this article. Qualitative data were obtained from both nurses and patients on a mixed-sex surgical ward specializing in urology, to obtain individual perspectives relating to factors affecting dignity on the ward. Nurses tried hard to keep bays single-sex but, due to bed shortages, they were under continual pressure to mix the bays. Some patients of both sexes and varied ages perceived that a mixed-sex care environment threatened their dignity. They experienced a lack of privacy, worried about bodily exposure and felt uncomfortable. Nurses used various strategies to reduce patients' discomfort. Mixed sex accommodation is an unacceptable solution to bed shortages.