NHS mixed sex - struggling

[toldyouiwasill]

Been admitted to a mixed sex bay for ?appendicitis or pelvic inflammation/gynae problem of some sort. Told I’m getting a scan later.

I’m the only female, everyone else is elderly men. There’s only one toilet. The nurses said there’s no other option, because of the ?appendix it’s a surgical unit.

It sounds silly to be upset but I was sexually assaulted in a hospital years ago (by a colleague) and I’m struggling. I don’t want to speak about that in front of everyone, I’ve got a CMHT and a CPN but I don’t feel able to contact them.

The nurses haven’t said very much, just said to try and sleep but I don’t feel comfortable. I know I’m really wrong to be upset but I’m struggling.

@pleasecallmeback I'm in England. There aren't any here either. If women have to go on a male ward. They get a side room. I'm
Paediatrics though and there are different rules for us. But we try not to mix.

That's very very wrong! When similar happened to me I had to stay in a consultation room on a couch because the assessment unit was full of men and there was no space for me. Not ideal but they strictly enforced the sex segregation. When you're well please raise a complaint to Pals.

Write the nurse a note if you don't feel you can talk to her in front of the other patients.

Fell fast asleep with meds they gave me. Nurse that came round to do obs said as soon as they can they’ll try and move me to a female room, said it’s just lack of beds. Toilet’s surprisingly clean which I didn’t expect.

Guy beside me’s phone has rang more times than I thought possible; and also has a ring doorbell which is also activating everytime a fly passes his house.

The nurse can ask the man to put his phone on silent or vibrate, that's just thoughtless

Do you feel well enough/ able to write a note to the nurses if you don't want to verbalise what has happened in the past in front of people on the ward? You could start the note with "Please do not read this aloud as I do not want anyone else on the ward to be aware of it. Sensitive content concerning sexual assault" and then put a brief explanation of what happened and why you are struggling to be on the ward? Perhaps they can arrange for a female chaperone for you to use the toilet for example until you can be moved elsewhere.

They’ve just come in and moved me to a female bag thank God. Shattered. Hoping I can go back to sleep.

Glad to hear it! Hope you can rest and get better soon 💐

Bays are a different thing to wards. OP was in a mixed bay.

OP glad to hear you are now in a female ward. When you are well send an email to your MSP and tell them about being in a mixed ward and how vulnerable this made you feel. In fact you were the only female in the room. Complain and they will take it up directly with the hospital. Im fed up hearing that mixed sex wards dont exist. They certainly do in scotland as i was in one for over a week in 2020. According to the recent inspection of my local hospital, mixed sex wards were seen as the norm and that was seen as a fault that had to be rectified. Theres no way you would share a hotel room with strange males so sharing a ward with them is not acceptable. My dad was in our local hospital in a mens ward, he woke up one night to find a stark naked male sitting on his bed. No malice just a very sick man, however why should women be subjected to that risk? I hope things go okay in your new ward. You can also send an email complaint to your local health board.

Still in hospital, sadly. Thankfully in a female bay. Catheterised with a UTI, thrush, and a chest infection and feeling very sorry for myself indeed. Catheter full of blood clots so keeps bypassing/spasms and bloody sore. And of course every time I cough I make it worse.

Keep being told hopefully get home by the weekend. Sats too low apparently.