RCN comment on Equality and Human Rights Commission report into the care of older people

Published: 23 November 2011

Commenting on today’s report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

“This is an extremely worrying report, echoing concerns we have been raising for several years about the care of people who can be extremely vulnerable. There are variable standards of care in the social care sector and an increasingly urgent need for the mandatory regulation of all health and social care workers. As a society, we should value and respect our older people, and there has to be a corresponding value applied to the role of the care.

“It is vital that staff receive mandatory education and training that they need in order to carry out their jobs to the highest possible standard. These appalling experiences have gone on long enough and must be eradicated.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media
2. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations