Winchester MP Steve Brine has welcomed news that the Royal Hampshire County Hospital is taking major steps to get rid of mixed-sex wards, after the Government pledged to stop the practice where it has no clinical justification.
Last year there were over 450 cases of patients being put in mixed-sex accommodation, and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has announced fines for hospitals of £250 per patient per day in future cases.
The hospital currently has no patients on mixed-sex wards, and a spokesperson said plans had been in place to stop the practice for many years.
Steve Brine said: "This is good news and credit to the RHCH. Ending mixed sex accommodation was a key manifesto pledge for me at last year's election so it is good to see our local hospital making it happen."
