Hospitals do have a duty of care to all patients. That doesn't mean care can be ideal for all patients (sadly). I think the NHS will adopt a one size fits all policy for cost reasons, its not ideal.
I totally stand by the point that it is not logical to object on grounds of being harmed by other people's partners. It isn't a logical fear. Disliking men's presence is one thing, its personal preference, I see that. Being afraid of them is another. Being afraid of other women's partners in that setting is not logical. Being afraid of your own if he's awful, totally logical. Tbc.
To give my opinion on a few other points:
Noise - maybe, yes. But weighed against the fact its already noisy. No man I've heard snore can compete with a baby screaming. There are four babies minimum. Ladies we are already doomed. The counterpoint would be the babies might be quieter with the second person's care and insight. Plus all the other benefits that outweigh this.
Toilets - Partners aren't allowed to use ward toilets in the day for hygiene, they shouldn't at night either. This is a separate issue which shouldn't happen. Of course it will happen anyway, human nature. But unless you don't allow them there during the day either, having them there at night doesn't make a major difference.
Privacy - Men are already there during the day, so if you have a terrible case of post natal wind chances are the men are going to hear it in the day anyway. So again privacy, from men or women is already non existent. And as an aside why should we care what random men think of our post natal wind?
Food - yes I quite agree, don't feed them, they aren't patients and they can go the café, hopefully while they are at it they will bring back something nice for us.
I agree that abused women would want a single sex ward. But against this we need to weigh the mental health needs of every woman with a depressive or anxiety disorder or who have had a emotionally or physically traumatic birthing experience who need (not want) support. These women are going to be much more numerous and will benefit from their partners presence while an abused woman is only going to benefit if she manages to bring herself to ask for help. So not only are the first group more numerous they are more likely to benefit from the change in policy. I’m not claiming to be someone who 'needed' their partner. I wanted him, I could move (just), was fairly but not lastingly emotionally traumatized by a four day labour where I didn't get gas and air till the last 4 hours, exhausted, and scared at being in sole charge of the baby so soon. That was bad enough so how does it feel to have had a worse labour or be in a worse emotional place to begin with.