Dignity campaign

ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the government's launch of a campaign designed to push for more dignity and respect for older people in care.

The broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson has been given the role of 'dignity ambassador' as part of the campaign.

Stakeholder response: Age Concern

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Gordon Lishman, director general, said: "It is very welcome that the government are encouraging more people to become dignity champions and have recognised failures in the system. However, there is still a huge way to go in treating patients with the dignity and respect they deserve.

"Older people are the main users of health and social care services but despite this, neither the provision of services nor training of professionals recognises this fact.

"Ageist practices and unacceptable breaches of people's rights – such as couples being split up – are still occurring.

"Treating older patients with dignity and respect in all aspects of their care is essential from the basics, like help with eating, upwards. Age discrimination in the NHS must be outlawed and a major culture change is needed from board to ward."

Stakeholder response: Anchor Trust

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A spokesperson said: "Anchor Trust welcomes the announcement of Sir Michael Parkinson as an ambassador for Dignity in Care.
 
"We hope that his appointment will encourage even more care professionals to sign up as Dignity Champions, to help ensure that the dignity of older people is respected and furthered in all care environments.
 
"Anchor Trust already has nearly 200 Dignity Champions across its care home business.
 
"All staff in Anchor Homes who have completed our developing dementia care practice course have been registered as Dignity Champions, so that the dignity agenda continues to be at the heart of our services.
 
"Developing Dementia Care Practice is a five-day, advanced course which offers in-depth training to our staff who provide specialist dementia care to Anchor Homes residents.
 
"Anchor's Dignity Champions are now forming local networks with each other and other care staff so that they can share ideas and best practice on dignity in dementia care.
 
"It is this kind of innovative approach to care which saw Anchor's specialist dementia care team recognised earlier this month with a Community Care Excellence Network award for its commitment to training and development."

Stakeholder response: Help the Aged

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Paul Cann, director of policy, said: "The care of older people often falls short of the essential standards of dignity that should be compulsory: a survey of adult inpatients found that almost a quarter of those asked felt that they were not always treated with respect and dignity in hospital.

"Despite many nurses and doctors working against the odds to give their best, older people are too often forced to suffer infringements in basic standards of care such as nutrition and privacy. 

"In the 21st century, it really is shocking that health services fail to consistently provide aspects of basic care, and in the process, deny older people their dignity - this most basic recognition of their humanity.

"Establishing and maintaining dignity for patients is an issue of paramount importance -  patients, in particular older people, cite dignity as a primary area of concern for them when accessing healthcare.

"We must break out of the cycle of claim and counter-claim.  Later in the year, Help the Aged will be launching a set of measures that will tell us how much progress we are making with dignity year on year, and call all those responsible to account.

"Dignity in care should never be compromised and should be far more than a mere concept to sign up to. Fine words do not deliver dignity for our older population."