Under new cost cutting plans, women undergoing sensitive gynaecological treatment might soon have to share wards with male patients in NHS units.

Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup is set to shut down its gynaecological ward. The ward was used to treat women for conditions such as cancer and infertility problems. The patients of the ward will now be moved to a mixed ward with male patients.

Even as several patient groups are opposing the move at the hospital, it is believed that it is part of a review and similar moves might be made in other hospitals across the UK. Some point out that the move is against the government's pre-election promise of reducing mixed sex wards in hospitals.

Experts say that hospitals trusts are facing pressure to stay within budgets and deliver huge amounts in cash savings in the coming years. This might affect the quality of services and many units might be closed or merged with others, according to health experts.

Senior staff at the Queen Mary's defended the decision to close the ward by saying that the women will be treated at a separate area in the ward. The hospital is run by the South London Healthcare Trust, which is the first to be put under the administration by the Government after it accumulated £150 million worth of debt.