Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to redraft Annex B of the NHS document, Delivering Same-Sex Accommodation, published in September 2019, to implement recommendations made in the new Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance relating to single-sex wards in hospitals and nursing homes.
NHS England is reviewing this guidance and will consider the recommendations made by the Equality and Human Rights Commission during this review. The Department will ensure that any revised guidance adheres to relevant equalities legislation.
The review is led by the Chief Nursing Officer for England and the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer as the Senior Responsible Officer. The review is overseen by a steering group including representatives from the Department, the CQC, NHS England and NHS Improvement clinical leads, NHS England's safeguarding Lead, and representatives from civil society organisations including the LGBT Foundation, Stonewall, Sex Matters and Fair Play for Women. Any revised guidance will be approved by senior leaders in the organisation and comply with relevant equalities legislation.