Keeping a Dignified Watch

Health and social care watchdogs have been asked to put older people's dignity at the centre of their investigations, following an announcement made by Care Services Minister Liam Byrne.

The announcement comes as the national director for older people, Professor Ian Philp, publishes the second phase of the Government's 10-year plan to improve services for older people.

Minister Liam Byrne said:

"Dignity is everybody's business.

So we'll be asking watchdogs, nurses, doctors and newly appointed older peoples champions to join together with one goal: to make dignity in care a priority". (Inspections are carried out by the Healthcare Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection).

As part of his plans Professor Philp will work with the Chief Nursing Officer, who is set to issue a report addressing the role mental health nurses can play in improving dignity in care for older people.

The CNO's review will make recommendations about the way improved skills can benefit care and provide clear leadership to ensure dignity & respect are embedded in to services.

Liam Byrne and Professor Philp also plan to rejuvenate the Older People's Champions Network, which is intended to help root out age discrimination in the NHS and act as a change agent to ensure older people are treated with respect for their dignity & human rights.

Professor Ian Philp said:

"In the first phase of our 10 year plan we made great strides in access for older people to services including over 100% rise in breast screening of the over 65s, increased hip replacements and cataract operations and meeting our target for supporting older people to live at home.

I will be working with the Minister to ensure these increased services are delivered in a way that secures older people's dignity."

A New Ambition for Old Age, the second phase of the government's 10 year National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People is intended to encourage the involvement of older people in service planning and also focus on improving the integration of services and the promotion of healthy ageing, taking forward many of the themes outlined in the recent joint health and social care White Paper.

Activities such as exercise classes and dancing can promote health and well-being., while health service areas such as oral health, foot care and continence care promote active ageing.

Jonathan Ellis, policy manager for Help the Aged, said:

"We welcome the Government's commitment to encourage practices which will put older people's needs at the forefront of delivery of care."

The Department claims to have ensured that the key aims & objectives of the NSF will be followed up by aligning them with the national priorities set out in the Public Service Agreement Targets.

Jamie Rentoul, the Healthcare Commission's Head of Strategy, said:

"This report is good news.  It is right that dignity in care is moved to the top of the Government’s agenda for older people.

 The challenge we face now is for all public services and agencies to drive this plan through from Whitehall to something that will really make a difference on the ground.

Our recent report found that society has ‘deep-rooted attitudes to ageing’ and this often impacts on attempts to improve health and social care.

It found evidence of a lack of dignity and respect in the way older people are treated on hospital wards, a lack of priority given to the needs of older people when planning and commissioning services, and a lack of consultation with older people to find out exactly what they want.

NHS trusts must have effective arrangements in place to ensure that patients are treated with dignity and respect.

This is about basic standards of care.  We will hold trusts to account for their performance through our annual health check and follow-up inspections.

We are committed to working closely with the Commission for Social Care Inspection to ensure that where there are failings, these can be followed up at local level.

There is a lot we can all do right now to improve standards of care for older people.”

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