The issue of mixed hospital wards is probably not at the forefront of most people’s minds – until they or a loved one have to spend some time on one.

Then they become only too aware of the difficulties and even distress having to share a room with patients of the opposite sex can cause.

Some may believe that it is only elderly people or those of certain faiths who are bothered by such matters, but even if that were so, it would still be wrong to ignore their concerns.

However, almost anyone can feel uncomfortable in such circumstance – regardless of their sex or age.

It is hard enough just trying to get better without also having to cope with the embarrassment and loss of dignity being on a mixed ward can lead to.

It is a wholly unnatural situation resulting in a lack of privacy around strangers of the opposite sex at a time when self-esteem may already be at a low ebb.

And surely that has a detrimental effect on patients’ morale when the idea should be to keep their spirits up and encourage them to get better.

A recent progress report – in the form of a video – no doubt makes for pleasant viewing as our hospitals get ever closer to the day when mixed-wards are banished to the pages of medical history.

And that can’t happen soon enough. If they ever had a time, it has long since passed.