I WRITE on the subject of mixed-sex wards in ORH hospitals.

This topic is commented on frequently in your paper (including February and April this year), and I would like to add my own experience of a brief stay in March.

There were four women in my bay and one needed a lot of attention which I believe was for something serious, and that treatment made a noise.

I remained silent and observant. After all, a social anthropologist knows ‘observer participation’ is the best way to learn.

The adjacent bay was for men, but one wanted to either explore the ward or take regular exercise.

He walked around wearing only his pyjama top. Although the pyjama top was just long enough to prevent him exposing himself, no staff member told him to put on a gown or pyjama bottoms.

Perhaps they are so used to it and/or were too busy to ask him to cover himself below the waist more effectively.

I wonder if senior members in the administration have given any standing orders about what staff on the ward should do in such circumstances, or if the staff on the wards are deemed to be too busy to deal with such matters?

Should I, a mobile patient have said something to this man? If so, I failed in my duty because I thought it was the responsibility of the staff.

ALISON REDMAYNE, Blenheim Drive, Oxford