Abolishing mixed-sex hospital wards: a good first step

To the Editor: Three articles in a recent issue of the Journal1-3 call for implementing the changes recommended in the Garling report.4 One recommendation is that the appalling practice of placing male and female patients in the same room in general wards, and sometimes in adjoining beds, “must stop immediately”.4 This practice, and the sharing of toilets and showers associated with it, exemplifies a disregard for the human dignity of patients and lack of respect for the principles underpinning consent at the level of hospital and ward management.