Labour 'rattled' on mixed-sex wards

The Government is "rattled" over its failure to scrap mixed-sex hospital wards, a leaked memo has revealed. In the document, Health Secretary Alan Johnson says Labour has "got it wrong" over the practice, which the party has repeatedly promised to eradicate. Mr Johnson is quoted as saying: "Sane and rational arguments about why it can't be done no longer cut it with me, it's going to happen."

... Mr Johnson is expected to unveil a new initiative on the issue next week.

Last month data from the Conservatives revealed that around one in seven of hospital trusts still used at least one open-plan mixed-sex ward. Curtains were still being used to segregate patients in some areas, it was found.

The data also showed that between October 2007 and September 2008 there were 6,485 recorded breaches of procedures for segregating patients by sex in hospital trusts and 30 in mental health trusts...

Remind me, how long have they been in power, nearly twelve years or something, isn't it? If they can't even get this right ...