MIXED WARDS RULE BROKEN 13,178 TIMES

NHS breaches blamed on lack of beds

- EMER SCULLY

THOUSANDS of hospital patients have been forced to sleep in mixed-sex wards despite a ban on them 12 years ago.

New figures reveal 13,178 logged incidents of this happening in England since last October.

Lack of available beds in the hard-pressed NHS is said to be the main cause.

But the practice must be stopped, says Patients Association chief Rachel Power, who branded it an affront to patients' dignity”.