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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think most women would prefer to be on a single-sex ward as hospital in patients?

323 replies

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 17/03/2022 15:19

This was debated in the House of Lords in the early hours today.

I'm not up to speed on this so I don't know how many single-sex wards there are in the NHS. I know it's been promised again and again but for various reasons, mostly I expect to do with money, it doesn't always happen. Now there's the additional headache of trans-identifying patients to factor in, many of whom won't have made many (or any) changes to their bodies.

My hunch is that most of us (male and female), given the choice, would prefer to be in a single-sex ward when stuck in bed with a flimsy gown on and all sorts of undignified and painful things going on with our bodies.

Am I right?

YABU - who cares, mixed sex is fine
YANBU - yes, I would prefer hospital wards to be single-sex

OP posts:

Thread gallery

lifeturnsonadime · 17/03/2022 15:26

YADNBU

Women in hospital tend to be very vulnerable. Single sex wards are imperative to maintain dignity and ultimately safety of women in hospital.

Beowulfa · 17/03/2022 15:27

I assumed mixed sex wards are due to the "beggars can't be choosers" state of the NHS, not based on any clinical evidence that patients prefer them.

ElectricFlower · 17/03/2022 15:28

I was on an admission ward which was me and 5 men. I didn’t feel I could sleep until I was moved to a dedicated ward.

thecatsthecats · 17/03/2022 15:29

I voted YABU, but I'm aware that I'm on the flagrantly nudist/invulnerable end of the scale.

I've been more comfortable with some medical scenarios than trained nurses and doctors. Seem to be missing a shame chip.

Ohsugarhoneyicetea · 17/03/2022 15:29

Honestly you are lucky (or near death) to get a bed at all in an NHS hospital. The state of healthcare in this country is terrifying.

jcyclops · 17/03/2022 15:31

I think most people would prefer to be in a private room.

XmasElf10 · 17/03/2022 15:32

I think plenty of men would prefer single sex wards also! I would imagine generally most patients would prefer to be on single sex wards.

cobblers123 · 17/03/2022 15:32

I was in hospital four times in 2020, I was always in a single sex side ward with doors on it. I did ask when I went in for my pre-med appointment if the ward would be mixed sex as I was really worried that it would be.

The nurse said it was single sex side wards with their own bathroom for each ward of four beds and both sexes were totally separate which was a huge relief.

Bagelsandbrie · 17/03/2022 15:33

I will be in the minority I’m sure but I literally couldn’t care less. I have multiple disabilities and I’m in and out of hospital a lot and I’ve had scary experiences with females on the ward so I don’t feel anything more is likely to happen because men might be there. I think the focus should be on safety and privacy in general in hospitals.

Underhisi · 17/03/2022 15:33

I think most people will prefer single sex. It should also be possible to accommodate those who for whom this will be problematic ie adults with an essential carer ( required to stay overnight).

Original poster

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 17/03/2022 15:36

@XmasElf10

I think plenty of men would prefer single sex wards also! I would imagine generally most patients would prefer to be on single sex wards.

I'm certain they would. In the case of men, it's about privacy and dignity.

In the case of women, it's that plus safety.

OP posts:

WanderingFruitWonderer · 17/03/2022 15:36

Totally agree. I'd be horrified by a mixed sex ward. I'm fortunate to have never been ill enough to require a hospital stay. But I'd imagine it's a time when you'd feel at your most vulnerable, and a situation that'd be difficult at the best of times would end up potentially being extremely stressful. Perish the thought...

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 17/03/2022 15:36

When people say 'mixed wards' are there dedicated single sex bays or could you literally be in a bed opposite a man (if you're a woman)?

There is no way I'd cope with that. I'd discharge myself.

showmethegin · 17/03/2022 15:37

I would feel incredibly vulnerable on a mix sex ward. When you are flimsily dressed, groggy from anaesthesia and trying to get sleep, the last thing I'd want is a man in there. I would feel really uncomfortable

Underhisi · 17/03/2022 15:37

"I think most people would prefer to be in a private room."

My fil who was in hospital a lot, hated being on his own in a room.

Weepingwillows12 · 17/03/2022 15:37

Yanbu

Original poster

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 17/03/2022 15:37

@cobblers123

The nurse said it was single sex side wards with their own bathroom for each ward of four beds and both sexes were totally separate which was a huge relief.

That sounds a good arrangement. Private rooms is a pipe dream for most of us, unfortunately.

OP posts:

SevenWaystoLeave · 17/03/2022 15:38

Couldn't care less. I spent a hospital stay on a mixed sex ward, it's difficult not having privacy sometimes but that isn't impacted by the gender of the person in the bed next to you, and everyone is in the same boat anyway. If a trans person is in hospital it's because they're sick and vulnerable too. As for what parts they have, how would you even know, you're not actually ever going to see them naked even with the lack of privacy on wards.

iolaus · 17/03/2022 15:38

As long as the BAYS are single sex, it wouldn't bother me if the ward was or not

I've always seen it where they have a male end and a female end

coffeeiwish · 17/03/2022 15:39

Can't see how to vote but YADDDNBU

JuliaSways · 17/03/2022 15:39

I was an inpatient last summer. The ward I was on had 4 bays of 8 beds. Each bay was single sex. So although the ward was mixed sex, each bay was single. I felt safe enough in my area, but it did feel strange walking to the loo in my pj's or going for a shower, feeling very vulnerable knowing there was a room of men next door.

Original poster

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 17/03/2022 15:39

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

When people say 'mixed wards' are there dedicated single sex bays or could you literally be in a bed opposite a man (if you're a woman)?

There is no way I'd cope with that. I'd discharge myself.

I'm afraid you could, judging by anecdotal accounts I've read/heard. This includes locked mental health wards (obviously not spending all day in bed there, but still ...).

I don't suppose there are too many old-fashioned Nightingale wards left, the kind that was universal in the UK when I was a child in the 1960s with long rows of beds down each wall, separated by flimsy curtains. Side wards seem a lot more common now.

OP posts:

lifeturnsonadime · 17/03/2022 15:40

@Underhisi

"I think most people would prefer to be in a private room."

My fil who was in hospital a lot, hated being on his own in a room.

They are awful, especially for long hospital stays. You are completely isolated. Especially so in covid times when you weren't even allowed visitors.

iolaus · 17/03/2022 15:40

@cobblers123

The nurse said it was single sex side wards with their own bathroom for each ward of four beds and both sexes were totally separate which was a huge relief.

A ward is a lot more than 4 beds,

If each bay (of 4-6beds) is single sex doesn't mean that it's not counted as a mixed ward

SevenWaystoLeave · 17/03/2022 15:41

@Bagelsandbrie

And yes I'd agree with this, the most disruptive/intrusive/aggressive person I shared the ward with was another woman. Don't know why you'd assume you're automatically safe just because your neighbours are women.

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