Dignity and Respect

We continue to read and hear about situations where services fail to preserve the dignity of people in many aspects of their care and support.

This has been spectacularly highlighted in the mistreatment of adults with a learning disability by staff at Winterbourne View hospital.

Tragically there was a similar story in Staffordshire where the failures of MidStaffordshire NHS Foundation Trust hospital resulted in patients being denied basic healthcare - “Privacy and dignity, even in death, were denied” (Mid-Staffs public enquiry: executive summary Feb 2013).

This must not continue and we need to do all we can to make sure everyone is treated with dignity and respect. 

Contents of this mini book:

• An introduction to dignity and respect
• Dignity in care campaign
• What is dignity?
• Thinking about the impact of not including dignity into everything that you do
• "I'm here….”
• 10 dignity do's
• How do you make sure that the support you provide follows the “10 dignity do’s”?
• Choice and control
• Communication
• Eating and drinking
• Pain management
• Personal care
• Personal care – case study example
• Practical assistance
• Privacy
• Social inclusion
• How do you know if someone is being respected? Case study example
• What can you do?
• Heather Mackey – “I laugh with you sometimes”