Response to report on dignity in care from Sir Michael Parkinson
In response to the publication of the report by Sir Michael Parkinson on dignity in care and the announcement of the prizes and a publicity campaign, Director of the Patients Association Katherine Murphy said
“We absolutely applaud those people doing a fantastic job-there are so many people out there who are dedicated and provide wonderful care. But, we receive the same ‘mountain’ of letters that Sir Michael Parkinson has received; we read the same distressing stories. We have hundreds of letters that describe what Sir Michael recognises as the ‘ugly – the inexcusable and the downright unacceptable.’
Publicity and promotion are of course welcomed, but serious investment and zero tolerance are also desperately needed. Not enough is being done to address this crucial problem blighting the lives of too many families. Sir Michael Parkinson heard that bureaucracy makes life difficult for staff. We have heard nothing from the Department of Health about what they will do to address a problem largely of their own invention. We are also very familiar with the ‘language of delay, the sense of a complaint sinking without trace in a bureaucratic quagmire, the suspicion of a cover-up that really upsets people’. This issues needs to be desperately addressed by the Department of Health.
We also welcome Sir Michael's recognition that the media ‘need to keep running stories about the ugly side of care and encouraging people to complain and speak out against it.’ People need to know they are not alone."
To find out more about the report and the Dignity in Care Campaign click the link below:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/News/Recentstories/DH_110925
To find out about the Patients Association Report Patients not Numbers, People not Statistics click the links below:
http://www.patients-association.org.uk/Research-Publications/297
