Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O’Shaughnessy on 13 March (HL5692), in the context of NHS hospital sleeping accommodation, what is their definition of the opposite sex of (1) men, and (2) women.

As set out in the guidance Eliminating mixed sex accommodation in hospitals, it is for each trust to determine how best to accommodate patients, taking into account national guidance on action to eliminate mixed sex accommodation, the relevant quality and safety standards, and patients’ own preferences. A copy of the guidance is attached.