Royal Devon trust reviews new NHS guidance on privacy and dignity

Devon’s largest NHS trust is reviewing new national guidelines on patient privacy, dignity, and safety, with any potential changes to hospital accommodation set to go through formal equality and policy checks before being rolled out.

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford) and North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple, announced the review today (Monday, October 19).

NHS England has published updated guidance on privacy, dignity and safety for patients in hospital accommodation, alongside new guidance covering NHS staff facilities.

The guidance follows the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations, which came into effect on August 5. NHS organisations have been asked to consider the new documents alongside the Code and review their local policies, practices and environments as necessary.

The trust, which employs about 15,000 people and serves more than 615,000 people across northern, eastern and mid Devon, said it was reviewing the guidance “in detail to understand what changes may be required”.

In the meantime, staff have been asked to continue following current trust procedures and to seek senior advice where an individual situation is complex or the appropriate course of action is unclear.

The trust said any proposed changes would be considered through its governance, policy and equality-assessment processes before being introduced.

What the guidance covers

According to NHS Employers, which represents NHS organisations on workforce issues, the revised hospital accommodation guidance sets out the NHS Constitution’s same-sex accommodation pledge, explains how “same-sex” should be interpreted in light of the latest EHRC guidance, and describes how organisations should manage breaches of the requirements. It replaces a 2019 document, Delivering same-sex accommodation.

The separate staff facilities guidance advises NHS trusts and integrated care boards on changing, washing and showering areas, toilets and staff accommodation. NHS Employers, which reported on the guidance on October 16, said NHS organisations are required to review and update existing policies on staff facilities, or develop new ones if none exist.

What the Code says

The EHRC Code was revised following the Supreme Court’s April 2025 ruling in For Women Scotland, which held that “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 has a biological meaning.

According to a summary by law firm Lewis Silkin, the Code says that where single-sex services are provided, they should be provided on the basis of biological sex. Services are open to all by default, but may be limited to one sex where that is a proportionate way of achieving a legitimate aim, such as privacy, dignity or safety. Trans people remain protected from discrimination under the Act.

The summary says the Code states that providers should consider additional provision so that trans people are not disadvantaged.

The Royal College of Nursing said when the Code came into force that health and care guidance must be “unequivocal” on how services apply it “to maintain the safety and dignity of all patients”.

The trust’s statement

In its statement, the trust said: “Our priority remains to provide care that is safe, compassionate, dignified and respectful, and to protect the privacy, dignity and safety of patients and colleagues.”

It added that it recognised “patients and colleagues may have a range of views and experiences in relation to this issue”.

“Whatever your perspective, everyone must continue to be treated with dignity, respect and kindness,” the trust said. “Bullying, harassment and discrimination have no place in our Trust.”

Beyond its two main hospitals, the trust also provides care in community hospitals, outpatient clinics, patients’ homes and specialist community services.