[West Ender]

I was in hospital exactly a year ago. For the first few days I was far too ill know or care who else was in the ward but, having refused to be catheterised for the convenience of the staff (a practise I found degrading and repulsive), I was going to the loo when necessary. It was while on my trips to the bathroom that I discovered there were bays on the ward that contained either male or female patients.

It didn't cause much of a problem except there was one old chap who was, obviously, not all there. Twice I went to a loo marked "female", unlocked, and found him sitting there with his pyjama pants round his ankles. It didn't worry me, the sight of one sad, skinny male body wasn't any big deal but, for all I know, it may have worried him.

I can remember my husband being in the same hospital, about 20 years ago, on a men's ward. One visiting time, the very sick old man in the bed opposite him kept kicking off the bedding and sliding to the end of his bed - naked from the waist down. It was a pathetic sight, quickly rectified by a nurse when Colin gave her a call, but I can imagine how distressing it might have been for a female patient if the ward had been mixed.

Patients must be given their dignity. It's often the only thing they can hang on to when they're in hospital.