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Original poster

First experience of a mixed ward

21 replies

Kimmeridge · 04/12/2023 14:52

And im not impressed.

In for a procedure so lying on a bed wearing only a paper gown and 4 out the 6 beds are occupied by men. I'm going to come back sedated and again just in my paper gown.

Needing the loo but not keen in walking the full length of the ward in my paper gown

When will hospitals realise these are unacceptable

OP posts:

Doseofreality · 04/12/2023 14:53

It is unacceptable, I totally agree with you. Sadly, dignity is now a luxury when it comes to the NHS.

Goodornot · 04/12/2023 14:54

Doseofreality · 04/12/2023 14:53

It is unacceptable, I totally agree with you. Sadly, dignity is now a luxury when it comes to the NHS.

My mum was admitted to a mixed sex ward in 1999 under Labour. They brought them in and / or didnt get rid of them.

Peacelily001 · 04/12/2023 14:57

The hospital I worked in in Ireland had mixed wards - I’d never seen them in the U.K.
They were awful - poor people having to use a commode with the opposite sex a few inches away behind a curtain.
Sad to hear this OP.

Interested in this thread?

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General health

LakeTiticaca · 04/12/2023 14:59

The NHS has been making pledges to get rid of mixed sex wards for years. Probably won't ever do it in case it offends the sensibilities of certain "sections "of society 🤔

Spencer0220 · 04/12/2023 15:02

I understand totally how this is an issue. However, I'm in the opposite boat.

I have communication issues and various disabilities. I've only been placed on single sex wards, which has been a nightmare for me as I have my DH as my caregiver, and my caregiver must stay overnight. This isn't possible on an all female ward obviously.

Desecratedcoconut · 04/12/2023 15:04

I've been on a mixed ward but I don't think I've ever had a mixed bay like this. That's fucking shit, op.

Iwasafool · 04/12/2023 15:05

I was on one a few years ago, maybe 6? It was fine, the bays weren't mixed. There were far more men on the ward and the women were in two bays by the sister's desk. We were at one end of the ward and the toilet at our end was for women. The sister running the ward was brilliant. I barely saw any of the male patients.

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm · 04/12/2023 15:07

Horrific so sorry OP.

none of us can afford to get I’ll in this country anymore

Original poster

Kimmeridge · 04/12/2023 15:14

Sorry its a mixed bay not a mixed ward So 6 beds in the room . 4 occupied by men.

OP posts:

pacora · 04/12/2023 15:16

I thought this wasn't allowed anymore? Awful for you OP

njg616 · 04/12/2023 15:23

Mixed wards aren't ideal but sometimes there's just no other option.

However I do oppose mixed specialities (for example having dementia patients in the same bay as post surgery patients).

ALongHardWinter · 04/12/2023 15:27

I thought this wasn't allowed any more?!

Melroses · 04/12/2023 15:31

I was in a mixed ward in the late '90s. At least the bays were single sex - the toilets were not single sex and not enough of them - I remember struggling to one when I had come round from my anaesthetic to find some dirty bastard had emptied his shaver all over the toilet seat. 😬

The 'day room' was no go.

PilatesPeach · 04/12/2023 15:45

My late mum was on a mixed ward late 90s. The chap opposite only wore a pyjama top not bottoms. I was there one day and he got out of bed and stretched his arms overhead and we were treated to full frontal of his crown jewels and then he turned his back to us bending over to put on his slippers and we were treated to a sight of his ball bag - I kid you not. Absolute disgrace. My mum had terminal cancer and life was bad enough without this carry on

Original poster

Kimmeridge · 04/12/2023 22:52

Back home tonight. Came back from my procedure sedated so really sleepy & put back into my bay to sleep it off. Despite it I was still so conscious that I was lying there sedated with only a hospital gown and teeny sheet covering my modesty. I was the only one who had to strip off & just wear a gown. I was also the only one in the room who was sedated so even when the male patients came back they were fine.

I definitely felt very vulnerable. Some things really need to be same sex areas

OP posts:

mantyzer · 04/12/2023 22:57

It is supposed to be avoided if possible. But there is such a shortage of beds, so it does happen.
Labour pledged to get rid of them and the numbers of people in mixed say bays did reduce.

whichwaytohome · 04/12/2023 23:39

@Kimmeridge that sounds awful.

I've been in mixed wards a few times, usually due to asthma attacks.

Once, in 2003, the bed opposite me was occupied by a prisoner. There were two guards with him, it was strange trying to sleep with them opposite.

t was

NewtonPulsifer · 04/12/2023 23:42

That is really shit. Have you got your phone? The Hollie Guard app is good to download if you’re feeling vulnerable.

I remember being on a mixed bay years ago when I was in my early 20s. Blokes with pyjama bottoms on but with the flies wide open. There should be some sort of ice spray that nurses can use “Spray and they’ll put it away”

BillieEyelash1 · 05/12/2023 20:36

I had a similar experience over the summer. I was the only female in a bay of four, however this was ICU/HDU so might’ve been a bit different. I did feel a bit vulnerable however as was on 1:1 I felt okay about it. Though on my second or third day there they did have another woman on the bay. When I was moved to a normal ward it was all female bays. More recently my mother was in a ward that had a high risk/HDU area and they were all same-sex bays (same hospital).

TurnTheDamnedLightsOff · 05/12/2023 20:41

I remember being extremely unwell and admitted to a holding ward in my local hospital. Because 2 beds were occupied by men it meant I couldn't be put in any of the bays so they put me into a clinical room at the side with no room for a bed and no bed beyond the examination table. I'm not sure which out of your situation and mine I'd prefer in your scenario OP

mantyzer · 05/12/2023 21:08

ICU is always mixed but is also staffed 1-1.

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