Dignity - campaigns and initiatives

In addition to the RCN's own dignity campaign there are other campaigns and initiatives in the UK that have addressed the issue of diginty in health care.

For details of the RCN's dignity campaign publications see the publications page in this resource.

CARE Campaign
This campaign is a joint venture between the Patients Association and Nursing Standard magazine, and is aimed at improving fundamental patient care. It is based on the four most frequent concerns that are received from patients, relatives and carers regarding poor patient care. The CARE Challenge states: As a minimum, all patients should get assistance when they call for help, encouragement to eat and drink, assistance with going to the toilet, and have their pain addressed.

Commission on improving dignity in care
The Commission on improving dignity in care was established as part of a joint initiative from the NHS Confederation, Age UK and the Local Government Association (LGA), to help improve dignity in care for older people in hospitals and care homes. The Commission has published the final report of its review which draws on the submissions to the consultation on the draft report, published in February 2012, in addition to the body of evidence gathered over the first eight months of the Commission's work. The report and its follow-up programme of activities aims to builds on the good practice already in place and focus on how to tackle the underlying causes of poor care - see Delivering dignity: securing difnity in care for older people in hospitals and care homes.

Dignity: Behind Closed Doors
This campaign launched by the British Geriatric Society in August 2006, aims to raise awareness that people, whatever their age and physical ability, should be able to choose to use the toilet in private in all care settings. The campaign produced supporting materials including: 'Behind closed doors' standards; a decision aid for using the toilet in any care settings and an action plan for target groups.

National Pensioners Convention: Dignity code
Britain’s biggest pensioner organisation, the National Pensioners Convention, has launched a Dignity Code which has been established to safeguard older people’s dignity in care. It sets out minimum standards for the dignified treatment of older people, whether in hospital or the community. View: Letter to the Telegraph supporting the Code. Signatories include the RCN.