Dignity In Care, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, England

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Also Included In: Caregivers / Homecare
Article Date: 16 Dec 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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A new project at the Royal Free aims to promote the idea of dignified care across the trust.

"Nurses are passionate about trying to deliver dignified care," said Mary Flatley, who is leading the project team. "This project aims to help clinical leaders improve patients' experiences within the trust by supporting the staff to deliver these clinical improvements."

The team of 13 expert clinical leaders has identified four key areas where dignity and care for Royal Free patients can be improved:

- Conversations with and about patients and relatives - where they take place and who is involved in them
- How staff talk to each other, what they say and the tone they use
- How staff care for people at the end of life.
- Privacy and clothing

"Dignity is hard to define and means different things to different people but what is very clear is that people know when they have not been treated with dignity and respect," said Mary. If you would like to know more about the project, please contact her on trust email.

Mary was interviewed by the BBC Radio 4's Today programme for the 30 December broadcast.

Royal Free Hamsptead NHS Trust

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