Caring Together: Gender-based rooms for hospital patients
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Health. Media Release.
"Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, announced today female and male patients in public hospitals would benefit from separate rooms or ward bays wherever possible as part of a raft of health initiatives to be introduced by the NSW Government.
Mr Della Bosca said the improvements were part of the Government’s Caring Together: The NSW Health Action Plan developed in response to the Garling Report triggered by the tragic death of Vanessa Anderson.
“Public hospitals need to have greater opportunities, backed up by extra resources, to place men and women in separate rooms or ward spaces,” the Minister said.
“We acknowledge where patients need emergency or intensive care treatment this is not always going to be possible - especially in the initial stages of treatment - as patient care is going to be the over-riding priority, however, we need to find a better balance.
“The NSW Government is providing $12 million over four years to employ extra support staff to help with necessary transfers within wards so men and women can be housed in separate rooms and ward bays."