Warwickshire News Mine

Many of us at some point in our lives will have contact with health and social care services, whether as a service user, carer, relative or friend and we hope that when we do we will be treated with dignity and respect. 

Warwickshire County Council and NHS Warwickshire are helping to make sure that dignity is a reality for all and are holding a number of events to raise awareness of Dignity Action Day and to make Thursday 25 February a day to remember for those receiving and providing care.

Activities include intergenerational work ranging from a day with students looking at life and work in the 1940s and 50s to the creation of a new allotment for an older people’s care home as part of community reparation scheme.

There will be discussion groups between staff and older people about dignity, in addition to life story work and the launch of weekly lifestyle activities for older people. And food will play a major part too, as all ten of the county council’s residential care homes build on their nationally acclaimed ‘Focus on Mealtimes’ work with a food and drink related celebrations. 

“Dignity is not an ‘add-on’ to our busy working day,” explains Dr Graeme Betts, Strategic Director of Adult, Health and Community Services at Warwickshire County Council. “It’s about everything we do and we want to use this opportunity to promote the dignity of those receiving care, to drive up standards, and to make dignity and respect everyone’s responsibility.”

Warwickshire staff, including care home and community support services front-line workers and managers, have already signed up as dignity champions with the commitment to take action, however great or small, to create a care system that has compassion and respect for those using its services. Dignity champions endorse ten principles of care to make a difference for the better.

Professor Ian Philp, Medical Director for NHS Warwickshire, says: “Having initiated the Dignity in Care campaign when I was the National Clinical Director for Older People in England, I am delighted that we are taking the issue so seriously in Warwickshire. I hope many people in Warwickshire will sign up as dignity champions.”

Organised by the Department of Health’s Dignity in Care Campaign, Dignity Action Day has won the support of Sir Michael Parkinson who said: “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 is everybody’s business, I hope people will do whatever is in their power to make a difference.”

Link to WCC