The number of NHS patients being placed in mixed-sex wards has hit an all-time high of almost 5,000 – despite the Government’s pledge to end the scandal more than a decade ago.

The number of NHS patients forced to endure the indignity of banned mixed wards has reached an all-time high.

In January, nearly 5,000 people of the opposite sex were housed in wards, the worst number since the government first cracked down on the practice.

Ministers promised to end so-called ‘shame guards’ in 2010 after a long-running Daily Mail campaign.

Yet the latest data shows a worrying upward trend in incidents since the Covid pandemic, when the NHS quietly eased the rules.

With a fine of £250 per offence, suppliers were fined thousands for flouting the ban – but the fine was withdrawn in April 2020.

The alarming rise in incidents comes as a damning report released today revealed that dozens of rapes and assaults take place in hospitals every week.

It revealed that in three years, 6,500 sexual assaults were reported in hospitals, with shockingly one in seven crimes committed on wards.

Activists have long argued that segregated wards are vital to protecting the dignity of both sexes and the safety of women, especially the elderly.

But increasing pressure on hospital facilities, busier winter periods and the need to isolate Covid patients is likely to mean NHS trusts are struggling to keep up.

The Mail’s analysis of the numbers shows that the number of reported incidents rose rapidly in January to a record high of 4,938.

Read more: ‘Hospitals have almost become markets for sex offenders’: Shocking figures show 6,500 hospital assaults in just three years… and only four per cent are charged

This is more than double the number in January 2020, before the pandemic, when there were 2,156 cases.

In contrast, the number of incidents for the same month ten years ago was 407 – for the full year from April 2012 to March 2013 was 3,741.

Dennis Reed of Silver Voices, a campaign group for the over 60s, said: “The mixed gender sections were banned for a reason and it is extremely worrying that these statistics are rising again.

“It is particularly important for older people, especially older women, to be placed in single-sex wards.

“Many of the patients are very frail, they may have dementia or other conditions that prevent them from looking after themselves or even speaking out when there is a problem.

“It is not difficult for predators to take advantage of these situations, especially at a time when medical staff are overworked and cannot always stay on top of things.”

Activists claim the practice of mixing patients also exposes vulnerable people who use bedpans, wear open hospital gowns and are forced to share bathrooms.

“In addition to threatening their physical health, it is also extremely embarrassing and undignified for many older people,” Mr. Already added.

The devastating report by the Women’s Rights Network – which revealed the extent of sexual abuse in hospitals – is calling for better measures to protect patients, staff and visitors this week.

Found Heather Binning said: “We need to take every step possible to ensure that everyone is safe at the hospital.

“Gender segregation is critical to protecting women and girls for two reasons.

“Firstly, men who do not belong in the department are easier to spot and their presence easier to challenge.

“Secondly, opportunities are denied to bring women close to men when they are most vulnerable.”

The government pledged 13 years ago to end mixed-sex wards in the NHS and the introduction of £250 fines for hospitals for all mixed-sex “offences” initially caused numbers to fall. Although incidents initially numbered in the hundreds in the early years, they have steadily increased since 2017, with more than 2,000 per month since the pandemic began

The new WRN report also calls for Annex B to be scrapped – which says transgender people should be placed in health wards “according to their presentation”.

There should be “same-sex exceptions for health stations to ensure that women and girls in particular are adequately protected”.

Ms Binning said Annex B saw hospitals “put in a position where they put one patient’s feelings before the potential safety of another”.

The government pledged 13 years ago to end mixed-sex wards in the NHS and the introduction of £250 fines for hospitals for all mixed-sex “offences” initially caused numbers to fall.

While incidents initially numbered in the hundreds in the early years, they have steadily increased since 2017, with more than 2,000 per month since the pandemic began.

By February 2020, 4,929 incidents had been recorded, but this was an anomaly caused by significant breaches reported by University Hospitals Epsom and St Helier following previous under-reporting.

For the five months since October, data shows that the number of recorded incidents has exceeded 3,000 each month.

It surpassed 4,000 in the past three months with 4,373 in December, 4,938 in January and 4,164 in February.

Any placement of a patient in a ward of the opposite sex is considered an offence, with the exception of intensive care units, dependent persons or emergency rooms.

An NHS spokesman said: “The provision of same-sex accommodation is a requirement of the NHS standard contract and trusts across the country are taking steps to reduce or eliminate unjustified breaches, which remain rare.”