"Hip replacement surgery. Beaumont ward"

I had a recent hip replacement operation. Excellent care throughout. Staff worked extremely efficiently and care was given promptly. Staff were friendly and approachable. Preparation before the operation was also extremely good and comprehensive . Having had a previous hip replacement operation done privately I have to say that in every aspect of medical care the NHS was superior. I have only one complaint and that is about the long visiting hours. Although I was on a female ward, two of the husbands of patients were on the ward all day. Even on operation day when 6 of us were being prepared for operation and then receiving aftercare the men remained the whole time. One man sat on the ward all day, every day, even fetched his meals from the restaurant to eat on the ward. Often his wife was asleep or reading a book and he just sat there watching the other patients. I felt particularly embarrased in asking for and using a bedpan or trying to get in and out of bed whilst he was watching. It does defeat the whole object of single sex wards when you have the opposite sex on the ward all the time. What happened to waiting rooms for family members?