NHS urged to create 'basic rules' for elderly care
NHS urged to create 'basic rules' for elderly care
The NHS has been urged to establish a set of "basic rules" outlining a dignified level of care for older people.
In addition, every person who receives care - not just those whose place is arranged by their local authority - should be protected by human rights legislation, according to a new report entitled Delivering Dignity.
At present the NHS has a set of "never events" - incidents that are so serious they should never happen - but a list of "always events" should be implemented at every hospital and care home in order to drive up standards, the report's authors argue.
In order to tackle the causes of poor quality and undignified care of older people in care homes and hospitals, the study has called for a "major cultural shift" in provision.
"Delivering dignity will mean changing the way we design, pay for, deliver and monitor care services as the numbers of older people in care continues to grow," explained the commission co-chairs from Age UK, NHS Confederation and the Local Government Association in a foreword to the report.
"We have to work with older people to shape services around their needs, and listen to patients and residents and their families, carers and advocates so we learn from their feedback and continually improve dignity in care," they added.
The report was produced by the Commission on Improving Dignity in Care for Older People, an independent group set up by the NHS Confederation, Age UK and the Local Government Association.
Researchers obtained feedback from over 230 health and social care organisations, patient groups and individuals around the country.
Every NHS and care home chief executive in England will be sent a copy of the report, while a joint action plan from the three organisations behind it will be published later in the year.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow suggested that "many of the recommendations in this welcome report are addressed to managers and frontline staff in the NHS and social care" but the Government is nevertheless "determined to play its part in delivering dignity".