HOSPITAL chiefs need to find £150,000 to meet Government guidelines on single sex wards and facilities.

The Patients Charter laid out standards designed to protect the dignity and rights of people being treated in hospitals.

And even though Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare Trust has already been given Government grants to convert mixed sex wards the trust still has to find the extra cash.

The trust will need the cash to fund refurbishments to wards, toilets, bathrooms and day rooms. In some wards in East Lancashire hospitals, men's and women's toilets are separated by a single curtain. Men and women also have to pass each other on their way to bathrooms. A list of wards where work needs to be carried out has been drawn up by health trust bosses.

Most of the improvement work needs to be carried out a Blackburn Infirmary.

The majority of wards are split down the middle and divided by offices, day rooms and kitchens but there are several mixed sex units. Around £50,000 is needed to split three of the wards, including a children's and adolescents' surgical unit.

Further improvements are also needed at Park Lee and Queens Park Hospital.

The situation will be discussed at trust board meeting on Monday.

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