Patients and visitors
Privacy, dignity and safety for all patients and staff
Patient safety is our top priority but alongside it stands maintaining privacy and dignity for all who stay and work in our hospitals.
Our responsibility is not only to provide compassionate and inclusive care but also to ensure that all members of staff can access facilities that uphold the same principles.
In common with other NHS organisations we are reviewing our policies to ensure we comply with the various laws that govern the provision of single-sex accommodation.
This follows the Supreme Court ruling last year, the code of practice issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and most recently NHS England guidance.
Rachael Corser, group chief nurse, said: “We know that some individuals and communities are anxious about how the guidance would impact them if they need to be admitted to our hospitals. Our trans and gender diverse colleagues are also concerned about what this means for them at work.
“We recognise that different people have different needs and are committed to meeting these in ways that are safe, lawful and respectful to all. We are working with staff networks and sector experts to get our policies right.
“We want to assure everyone, whatever their identity, that their clinical care will never be compromised. Our doors remain open and you will be met with the care, compassion and respect you deserve.”
Eliminating mixed-sex wards has long been one of the principles of the NHS Constitution. The NHS says that to maintain hospital wards as single sex under the Equality Act 2010, trans people and others with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment should be accommodated in line with their sex at birth.
At the same time, we must also ensure that clinical needs are met, and privacy, dignity and safety is maintained for all - including other patients sharing that accommodation. This may require making alternative arrangements. The NHS guidance acknowledges that clinical need must always be the priority.
The practical challenge all hospitals face is ensuring they have sufficient single rooms, lockable toilets and accessible shower or changing facilities. So alongside reviewing our policies we are undertaking an estates audit to identify gender neutral toilets and changing rooms in existence and signpost them where needed.
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Your care, your call
We’re making hospital appointments fairer
Look out for a text message from us to remind you about your appointment.
If you can’t make it, just let us know by ringing the number in your text or contact our appointments team. We can offer your slot to someone else and find a time that works better for you. It’s your care, your call.
If you miss two appointments without telling us, you may be discharged back to your GP. These changes mean more people are seen on time and fewer appointments are wasted.
Inpatient and outpatient appointments
Your appointment
From diagnosis to recovery, we’re with you for every moment
Coming in for a test, treatment or check-up
If you have an appointment at one of our hospitals or clinics but don’t need to stay overnight, this is called a day or outpatient visit. This could be for a test, treatment or procedure.
When you need to stay in hospital for care
Sometimes you may need to stay overnight — for an operation, test, or so our team can look after you while you recover or receive treatment. This is called being an inpatient.
We’ve answered some of the questions you may have before, during and after your hospital stay
visiting guidance
Visiting our hospitals
Helping you plan your visit
We welcome visitors to all our hospitals.
To help you plan your visit, we’ve created a guide with visiting times, what to expect on our wards, and ways to support your loved one during their stay.
If you need help, speak to one of our friendly security team.
We’re smoke‑free
We’re smoke‑free
across all our hospitals
We want everyone to feel safe and comfortable when they visit us. That’s why smoking or using tobacco isn’t allowed anywhere on our sites, including in our buildings and outdoor areas.
E‑cigarettes can still be used as a stop‑smoking aid, but only in outdoor areas and away from entrances, windows and other people.
If you’d like support to stop smoking, we’re here to help.
We are here to care for you
But we will not tolerate violence and abuse
Some staff may wear body-worn cameras to help protect everyone. These are only switched on during an incident, and you’ll always be told before recording starts.
Footage is stored securely under the Data Protection Act. If you have any questions, read our violence and abuse policy., speak to the nurse in charge or our security team.
Filming in our hospitals
You may wish to record your hospital consultation or treatment for your own use.
Please check if your clinician is happy to be filmed before you start recording, and ensure that it does not interfere with your treatment or include other patients.
You may not take photos in clinical areas or disclose or publicise a photo, video, or audio recording if it has been modified and is not in connection to your consultation.
You can read more here.