Patients from across Greater Manchester give their view on dignity

Company news

Feb 13, 2015

Patients from across Greater Manchester joined Care UK’s Clinical Assessment and Treatment Service (GMCATS) to give their views on what dignity means to them as part of Dignity Action Day.

Their views are now being collated and will be used by the team to find ways to enhance the dignity of patients using the service at 15 locations across Greater Manchester, including Bolton, Stockport, Oldham and Salford.

During Dignity Action Day, health and social care professionals aim to promote dignity in their work. They encourage members of the public to give their views on what dignity means to them and what the service can do to make them feel in control of their treatment and visits.

Operations manager, Pat Phillips, said the mobile clinical units shared useful information on dignity and the unit reception displayed a digni-tree where patients, visitors and colleagues could write what dignity means to them on a leaf to be displayed on the tree.

“I was delighted with the enthusiasm of the patients and colleagues involved in the event and for making it such a success. The consideration patients gave to all aspects of dignity has really given us some exceptional feedback that can help us to further promote dignity within the service, as well as helping improve patients’ experience of care. A patient at the South Unit in Belle-Vue told us that dignity and respect is to treat patients as you would wish to be treated yourself, which is something I wholeheartedly agree with.

“Our mobile clinical service provides a safe, effective, innovative and patient centred service in Greater Manchester, offering care in the community and closer to home. Maintaining patients’ dignity and achieving the highest quality service is fundamental in all we do.”

The team’s privacy and dignity champion, nurse Lisa Lau, co-ordinated the event. She said “I thought that a digni –tea event would be a perfect way to highlight our responsibility to prioritise dignity in care and make everyone aware that this is a vital component of health care.

“When my gran was unwell, I watched and helped the nurses every day build up her confidence by treating her with the utmost kindness and respect which empowered my gran to get better. Seeing these acts of kindness and compassion from the nurses who took care of her inspired me so much that I applied for my nurse training to carry on this level of care for others.”

During the event patients enjoyed cake and a cup of tea while they talked about their views on dignity. Pat said: “The team worked hard, in their own time, making cakes and in Rochdale the kind donations from patients and staff raised more than £100 for the Springhill Hospice. Events like these provide us with an opportunity to think about how we respect and maintain patients’ dignity when delivering healthcare.”