Mixed-gender hospital rooms are on the rise in New Zealand, but the practice is unsafe and unethical

Mixed-gender rooms are increasingly common in New Zealand’s hospitals, based on evidence from hospital complaints and a large Wellington study.

But our new research demonstrates that placing men and women in the same hospital room is unsafe and unethical.

Mixed-gender bedding practices have been banned in the United Kingdom since 2010. Breaches are publicly reported and lead to fines for the hospital.