Why it matters: The figures reveal a significant disparity between Ipswich Hospital and other facilities, raising concerns about patient dignity and privacy.
Ipswich Hospital's breach count is nearly seven times higher than the East of England average of 30.5 breaches and 20x higher than Colchester General Hospital which is run by the same trust.
The big picture: Only six hospitals nationally reported more mixed-sex accommodation (MSA) breaches than Ipswich Hospital in January 2025, placing it as the 7th worst performer out of 115 hospitals that recorded data.
By the numbers:
20x higher than the 10 breaches at Colchester General Hospital
6.8x higher than the East of England regional average of 30.5 breaches
2.3x higher than the national average of 89.7 breaches
What they're saying: Catherine Morgan, Chief Nurse at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Our teams work hard to make sure we care for patients in same-sex areas. We do achieve this for most patients on our inpatient wards."
"However, in our medical and surgical assessment units, where we offer assessment and care before admitting someone to a specialty ward, it's not always possible to separate patients into same-sex areas due to the layout of those areas," Morgan explained.
For context: The NHS rule, introduced in 2010, requires hospitals to eliminate mixed-sex wards, except in certain circumstances such as when patients choose to share wards or when requiring highly specialised care.
Behind the numbers: ESNEFT claims that layout differences between Ipswich and Colchester hospitals is a significant factor. The trust says breaches primarily occur in medical and surgical assessment units rather than inpatient wards where patients have longer stays.
"We always prioritise the safety and clinical needs of our patients. When we do care for patients in mixed-sex areas, we take extra steps to maintain their dignity. We use side rooms as much as possible, and we offer same-sex toilet and changing facilities," Morgan added.
The bottom line: Despite the trust's best efforts to maintain dignity, patients at Ipswich Hospital face a substantially higher likelihood of being placed in mixed-sex accommodation than those at most other hospitals in England and all other hospitals in the region.
