We will be promoting a range of activities in the Main Entrance of the Hospital and the Restaurant on Wednesday 1st February 2012.
As part of a national day of action to promote Dignity in Care, the Countess of Chester Hospital will be promoting a range of activities in the Main Entrance of the Hospital and the Restaurant on Wednesday 1st February 2012. These activities will be of interest to patients, relatives, visitors or anyone else with an interest in dignified healthcare.
Dignity Action Day is a national initiative led by the Dignity in Care Campaign and its key partners to bring staff and members of the public together to make a difference to those in care.
Some of the highlights at the Countess will be:
- Stands on domestic violence, safeguarding, Alzheimer's society, Age UK and nutrition
- Information on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) dignity and nutritional review
- An opportunity to find out more about the Trust's Dignity Champions
- Listening walls where anyone can make a comment or suggestion
Providing the best clinical outcomes and highest quality care in a safe, friendly environment where a patient's dignity is fully respected is one the Trust's six key strategic objectives and dignity with care and compassion is a major focus within the Trust.
In October 2011, following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), a report into the standards of care that older people receive in hospital found that the Countess of Chester Hospital is meeting both of the essential standards of quality and safety for older people. You can find out more by clicking here.
In the words of Sir Michael Parkinson who supports the Dignity in Care campaign 'It might well be that the difference people make individually is a mere ripple on the surface of our care system, but each of those ripples added together create a wave, a social movement and if that makes life better for some - then it has to be worthwhile. Dignity in care must be everybody's business; I hope people will do whatever is in their power to make a difference."
Anybody can support dignity action day; to find out more log onto www.dignityincare.org.uk where resource packs full of ideas and useful information for staff and members of the public can be found.
What does dignity mean to our staff?
As part of Dignity Action Day, we asked our staff what dignity means to them. Here is what they said:
"Being treated with respect and kindness, as an
individual."
- Dee
Appleton-Cairns, Deputy Director of Human Resources
"Treating everyone with the respect and care I would
expect for myself and family. Remembering to put yourself in the
shoes of others at all times."
- Linda Williams, Radiology
Services Manager
"Respecting the diverse needs of service users and their
families. This should be reflected by all midwifery care being
based on individual need in reaction to assessment and listening to
information provided to all staff involved in midwifery care to
ensure that families feel involved in the decision making process
themselves."
- Julie Fogarty, Head of
Midwifery/Maternity Pathway Manager
"Valuing each other and showing it every
day."
- Ken Eccles, Head of
Estates
"Treating everyone with respect and allowing them to
make informed decisions about their care."
- Alison Swanton,
Rehabilitation and Discharge Pathway Manager Urgent Care
Division
"Being listened to and treated with care and compassion,
being acknowledged and not ignored, being involved in my care and
decisions, and being spoken to and not over."
- Sian Williams, Head of
Nursing Urgent Care
"The right of everyone to be respected."
- Mr Ian Harvey, Divisional
Medical Director Planned Care
"Treating someone in the way I would be expected to be
treated. In other words speak to me as a person, care for me,
listen to my worries and feelings, treat me with compassion and in
discussion with me recognise my individual needs."
- Carmel Healey, Pathway
Manager / Head of Nursing Planned Care
"To treat the children and families that I care for with
the respect and compassion that I would want to receive for myself
and my own family as recipients of care."
- Ravi Jayaram, Consultant
Paediatrician
"Providing quality care that is individualised,
respectful and involves the patient and their relatives. Care that
is given to any of our patients needs to be provided in a safe
environment, with the aim of maintaining the patients' privacy at
all times. Dignity also means preserving the patients'
self-confidence and well-being throughout their spell of
care."
- Karen Rees, Matron
Cardiology
"To value a person as an individual and to treat them
with the respect and consideration you would wish for yourself or
your family."
- Linda Fellowes, Divisional
Director Planned Care
"Being treated with respect, being treated as I would
wish to treat others and as an individual."
- Debbie Kadum, Divisional
Director Urgent Care Division
"People feeling safe and secure in an unfamiliar
environment. Their views are listened to and they understand their
care and treatment. No person should ever have their rights to
express themselves suppressed in a way that makes them feel
vulnerable."
- Helen Wormald, Quality
Improvement Facilitator
"Treating everyone - patients, their relatives, members of
staff - in the manner in which you would expect for yourself. I
expect this to be of the very highest standard and at all
times."
- Dr Virginia Clough, Medical
Director
"To be able to listen and treat people with respect.
Never discriminate or judge. Treat every person as an individual,
to give them choice and make their own decision in life. To be
non-judgemental regarding age, colour, gender, culture, religion or
intellect. We all have the right to be treated as
equals."
- Tim Lynch, Director of
Operational Services
"Treating people respectfully in a way that values them
as individuals."
- Gaynor Hales, Deputy Chief
Executive / Director of Nursing, Quality & Environment
"It means that I get treated in a way that makes me feel
that I and people I care about matter."
- Lesley Freeman, Deputy
Director of Nursing, Quality & Environment
"Dignity is respect for my privacy, attending to my
needs confidentially. Always hearing my voice and
listening to what I say. It is respectful of my body and mind
and considering all of my needs in a thoughtful caring
manner."
- Cathy Lloyd,
Acting Ward Manager (48)
"Ensuring patients receive the respect and care they
deserve, are treated as individuals and have a voice that is
heard."
- Kathie Grimes,.
Senior Clinical Midwife
"To treat patients, carers and relatives with respect by
ensuring their care and any requests are dealt with consideration
and diligence."
- Janet Simmonds, Lead
Ophthalmic Specialist Nurse
"To me it is all about what I would want for me and
mine."
- Clare Edwards, Matron
Elective Surgery
"Treating patients with respect."
- Joanna Martin, Skin
CNS
"Treating all patients as individuals and ensuring they
are treated with respect and listen to their
wishes."
- Jayne Rose, Jubilee Day
Surgery Centre
"Treating everyone as you would like to be treated
yourself or how you would want your loved ones to be
treated."
- Jackie Phillips, Breast Care
Nurse Specialist
"Mutual respect and consideration. Treat others as I
would wish to be treated and to have others do the same.
Maintaining people's beliefs."
- Liz Gunsel, Ward Manager,
Ward 52
"Treating others with respect and
understanding."
- Jane Brookes, Colposcopy
"To treat all patients as I would wish to be treated
myself. Respecting individual beliefs and feelings. Maintaining
privacy. Good communication."
- Pam Williams, Vascular Nurse
Specialist