All male ward, I'm the only female, would you be comfortable with it?

[ilovewelshrarebit123]

So I'm tired, tearful and fed up, so I'm not sure I'm thinking straight.

I've been in A&E for two days, and had a horrendous time, they've moved me to a ward with three nice old ladies.

I've been here half an hour and they've just told me I'm moving to another ward. Off we trot, I've no glasses or contacts in so can see very little.

I've just sat down and realised there are six beds in here and I'm the only woman the rest are occupied my men.

Next to me is a man who was aggressive in A&E abusing the staff. He's trying to engage me in conversation.

I've had no sleep as I sat on a chair in a corridor for 19 hours. I cannot sleep in here and I want to cry.

What can I do?

Mixed sex wards are supposed to be a big no no!

Have they provided an explanation as to why you have been moved there?

You poor thing. I thought that wasn't allowed any more?

No, you need to get moved to a female ward. This is not on.

Can you go to the reception of that ward and get moved?

That’s really bad. I know they sometimes use mixed bays/wards on high dependency, does that apply to you? If not I’d talk to a nurse and ask them the reason.

I really wouldn’t care tbh

This sometimes happens on assessment wards, but even then should be single sex bays. Flag a nurse and ask wtf is going on. I wouldn’t be happy either OP.

No it's a medical assess unit, I'm crying here, I haven't seen my daughter for two days and I feel shit,

Same here. I would rather be with women but if that wasn’t an option I’d rather be on a ward with men than in a corridor. Id just get on with it

Ask to be moved-ask to see Matron or whoever is on call for the hospital

If it's an assessment unit, unfortunately it's often mixed as it's otherwise difficult to make use of all the beds appropriately. Having said that if I was in charge and you asked I would try and do a swap, I can't believe there's not a male can swap with you but you might still end up in a mixed bay.

Oh no!! Are you the lady who posted earlier with the suspected aneurysm and contact lens issues? This is really not acceptable, I'm sorry.

Do you have someone who can advocate for you? You sound like you could use some support to help get it sorted.

To anyone who wouldn’t mind- no need to share that. Not helpful. Everyone has different needs.

I definitely wouldn’t like to be next to someone who was aggressive and abusive towards the staff.

It's understandable that you are tired and teary but you need to be assertive OP, say you're unhappy as you feel vulnerable and the man next to you is making you feel very uncomfortable especially as you have witnessed him abusing staff. Pull the curtain closed between you now. Ask for a PALS leaflet if nothing is done quickly. There would be hell to pay if anything happened to you after you had reported it. Can a relative come in or call and speak on your behalf?

Can you ring a friend or family member and ask them to come in and help you put your case across and see what can be done.

Yes Penfold I am, it's been shit and I've had enough.

Just to clarify there were two spare beds in the ward with the ladies, they've moved me because one old dear had dementia and is talking rubbish bless her. I don't care about that it's not her fault.

Why should I get on with it though, it's the guy in the next bed that's freaking me out. He was awful in A&E.

No, not acceptable. I work in a hospital, and the ward is mixed sex, but we never mix the sexes in individual bays. Can you contact PALS? Or just ask a nurse for the phone number for PALS and you might find you get moved quite quickly. So sorry this is happening to you, I wouldn’t like it and I don’t think lost people would like to be in mixed sex areas when they are vulnerable/ill/undressed, so please don’t feel bad about complaining. Do you have any family who can advocate on your behalf?

Oh dear, no I wouldn't like that at all. I'd not feel safe. Please talk to a nurse.

Not lost people, MOST people

Have you got anyone who could help you?
You shouldn't be in this situation and in particular not have to deal with the stress.

Also the consultant has asked me to make a complaint about me sitting in a corridor for 19 hours.

He said it was unacceptable and unless people complain nothing will change. The junior doctor actually cried when she heard how long I'd been sat there. I felt awful and she said she was frustrated that this happens in the UK, she also said she'd done a 15 hour shift so far and was shattered. ☹️

Can we ask where you are?