RCN comments on Delivering Dignity

Published: 18 June 2012

Commenting on the report from the Commission on Improving Dignity in Care for Older people, Delivering Dignity, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

“All older people deserve to be treated with respect and kindness when receiving health care treatment and in all other areas of their lives. As a nation people are getting older and our attitudes must shift to recognise and embrace this change. The report calls for a “major cultural shift” in tackling undignified care and this is something that society as a whole must address if we are to get care right for older people.

“Nurses can and should be leaders in developing the right attitudes towards older people and their needs and dignity. However, as the report points out, the RCN has consistently raised concerns about staffing levels on older people’s wards and the impact this can have on patient care. If there are not enough staff on a ward, it is impossible for all patients to receive the level of care they require. For this reason we are pleased that the Commission recommends that the Government’s Nursing and Care Quality Forum should look carefully at staffing issues. It also calls on the Department of Health to address the training and regulation of health care assistants, something the RCN has lobbied for over a number of years.

“We are pleased that this report seeks to dispel the myth of the ‘over qualified’ nurse and demonstrates a clear understanding of the skill required in caring for older people with complex conditions, including dementia.

“The RCN warmly welcomes the publication of today’s report and looks forward to working with the relevant groups to ensure its recommendations are properly implemented.”

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 organizations.