Same-sex Accommodation Campaign

Why a regional campaign?

When asked specifically how they feel about mixed-sex accommodation patients have said that sharing with the opposite sex can undermine privacy and dignity at a time when they’re already feeling vulnerable. The most common concerns include physical exposure, being in an embarrassing or threatening situation, noise, and the risk of overhearing conversations about other patients’ conditions.

Research amongst East Midlands’ residents has also found:

• 90% believe same-sex accommodation is whole wards occupied by only men or women

• 74% believe it’s either ‘very important’ or ‘fairly important’ the NHS provides same-sex accommodation for patients

• Patients and visitors have said they would like a member of staff to tell them about same-sex accommodation

• Those not in hospital would like to find out more about same-sex accommodation in their local newspaper.

The Campaign

As patients have said they wish to be told about same-sex accommodation by a member of staff we asked for NHS staff from the East Midlands to be our 'faces' for the campaign.

Our 'faces' are:

• Claire Sambridge - a Modern Matron at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

• Garry Marsh - a clinical lead at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

• Sanjiv Nichani - a consultant paediatrician at University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust

• Linnette Sow - a psychiatric nurse with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

Each member of staff represents the many levels of the NHS which work hard to deliver same-sex accommodation, and all are saying a reassuring message.

Each of them appear on pull-up banners, posters, leaflets and bookmarks which will be in NHS organisations across the region.

They will also be used in adverts which will be appearing in the region’s leading daily and weekly newspapers.