On 14 November 2006, the Minister for Care Services, Ivan Lewis MP launched the first ever dignity in care campaign. The campaign aims to stimulate a national debate around dignity in care and create a care system where there is zero tolerance of abuse and disrespect of older people.
Health and social care services have made great strides in recent years in driving down waiting lists and improving access to services. However, this emphasis on throughput has at times been at the expense of the quality of care experience. The Dignity in care campaign aims to re-dress that balance and to put dignity at the heart of care.
Over the past nine months, we have heard from a wide range of people about what dignity means and it is clear from that listening exercise that dignity matters a lot to people. It is also clear that many people do not know what they should expect from a service that respects dignity.