Noel Dempsey
Question:175 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health his policy in relation to mixed wards in hospitals other than units such as cardiac arrest or intensive care; and the plans, if any, he has to review this policy. [1144/96]
Written Answers. - Mixed Wards Policy.
Tony Killeen
Question:194 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Health his policy in relation to mixed male and female wards in hospital. [1283/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 194 together.
The general policy in acute hospitals is that patients are accommodated in single-sex medical and surgical wards. Certain departments and units, however, are designed to function as mixed facilities — these are usually the intensive care units, coronary care units and some geriatric/elderly care units. While policy is that the mixing of patients of different sexes in the same area should be avoided where possible, except in those special areas mentioned above, from time to time it can happen that the urgent demand for beds for one of the sexes exceeds the number available and it may become necessary to accommodate patients of both sexes in the one area for short periods. This is more likely to occur in the smaller hospitals where there is less flexibility in relation to accommodating patients because of the small bed numbers. Hospitals endeavour to minimise this practice to ensure the dignity and privacy of patients are respected at all times.
I am at present carrying out a review of mixed wards in each health board area. If, however, the Deputies have specific incidents they wish to bring to my attention, I will, of course, be willing to have them investigated.