Putting Dignity at the Heart of Stoke on Trent Community Health Services
Everyone has the right to be treated with respect, to have their values and beliefs maintained and to receive care that maintains their privacy and dignity.
In the words of Sir Michael Parkinson, National Dignity Ambassador ‘It might well be that the difference people make individually is a mere ripple on the surface of our care system, but each of those ripples added together create a wave, a social movement and if that makes life better for some – then it has to be worthwhile. Dignity in care must be everybody’s business; I hope people will do whatever is in their power to make a difference.”
Here are some of the initiatives Stoke-on-Trent Community Hospital Services have implemented in order to promote dignity in care:
Same-sex accommodation
The NHS is committed to making sure that all patients receive high-quality care that is safe, effective and focused on their needs. The NHS Constitution states that all patients have the right to privacy and to be treated with dignity and respect. We believe that providing same-sex accommodation is an effective way of helping to achieve this goal and of giving all patients the best possible experience while they are in hospital.
Why is same-sex accommodation so important?
It is clear from what patients tell us that being in mixed-sex accommodation can compromise their privacy and dignity at a time when they may already be feeling vulnerable. The most common concerns include physical exposure, being in an embarrassing or threatening situation, noise, and the possibility of other patients overhearing conversations about their condition.
Women and elderly women in particular, are most likely to worry about being in mixed-sex accommodation, although male patients also say that they feel reluctant to talk openly and find it embarrassing to be in a mixed-sex setting. Some patients are also strongly opposed to mixed-sex accommodation for cultural or religious reasons.
What do we mean by mixed-sex and same-sex accommodation?
Mixed-sex accommodation is where men and women have to share sleeping areas or toilet and washing facilities. Same-sex accommodation is where specific sleeping areas and toilet and washing facilities are designated as either men-only or women-only.
Same-sex accommodation can be provided in:
- same-sex wards, where the whole ward is occupied by men or women only
- single rooms, or
- mixed wards, where men and women are in separate bays or rooms.
Toilet and washing facilities should be easily accessible and, ideally, either inside or next to the ward, bay or room. Patients should not need to go through sleeping areas or toilet and washing facilities used by the opposite sex to access their own.
Is mixed-sex accommodation ever acceptable?
Most people accept that in some situations there is no alternative to men and women sharing accommodation. This includes situations where patients need urgent, highly specialised or high-tech care. When making this decision, staff must make sure that it is in the interests of all patients affected, and work to move patients into same-sex accommodation as quickly as possible.
The same-sex accommodation programme
Most hospitals are already making good progress towards providing same-sex accommodation: 99 per cent say they are providing same-sex sleeping areas, and 97 per cent same-sex toilet and washing facilities. But there is still work to be done to ensure that all patients have the best possible experience during their time in hospital.
In January 2009, the Department of Health announced a package of measures designed to ‘all but eliminate mixed-sex accommodation’ by 2010.
These include:
- dedicated funding to support improvements and adjustments to hospital accommodation
- providing information and guidance to hospital staff, patients and the public
- sending an improvement team to hospitals that need extra support, and
- introducing rigorous measures so that the Department can see how hospitals are progressing against the goal
What will it mean for Stoke-on-Trent Community Hospital Services?
Every patient has the right to receive high quality care that is safe, effective and respects their privacy and dignity. Stoke on Trent Community Health Services is committed to providing every patient with same sex accommodation, because it helps to safeguard their privacy and dignity when they are often at their most vulnerable.
We are proud to confirm that mixed sex accommodation has been eliminated in our trust. Patients who are admitted to any of our hospitals will only share the room where they sleep with members of the same sex, and same sex toilets and bathrooms will be close to their bed area. Sharing with members of the opposite sex will only happen by exception based on clinical need.
Longton Cottage Hospital now has same sex wards only and following the opening of the new Haywood Hospital in September 2009 all wards offer same sex accommodation with specific sleeping areas and toilet and washing facilities designated as either men-only or women-only, therefore improving privacy and dignity and emphasising the importance that we place on constantly improving the patient’s environment.
Dignity in Care Day
Dignity Action Day was a national initiative lead by the Dignity in Care Campaign which was held on 25th February and aimed to bring staff and members of the public together to make a difference to those in care.
All staff on the hospital wards at Longton Cottage and the Haywood Hospital wore purple badges pledging that ‘they will treat all patients and fellow staff with dignity and respect today and everyday’. Staff also wore purple ribbons, purple being the colour of dignity which were made by patients and Diversional Therapists on the wards. The activity was done to promote and highlight the dignity of those in the care of the Hospitals within Stoke on Trent Community Health Services.
Mandy Donald, Managing Director of Community Health Services said, “Dignity is about being treated as an individual with respect and compassion. It is important to remember that we can all make a real difference, everyone matters and everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect today and everyday”.
Celebrating Dignity Conferences
Two members of the Longton Cottage Hospital nursing team attended the dignity conference of which was held on the 14th April 2010. This is the second dignity conference hospital staff members have attended the first held 13th November 2007 demonstrating that dignity is of paramount importance to our health service staff.
Essence of Care
Essence of care benchmarking has been undertaken within our care environments since 2001 and is now an integral part of our care delivery. The privacy & dignity element is undertaken within all our wards and departments in our community hospital setting as we believe that patients benefit from care that is focused upon respect for the individual.
Dignity Champion
Stoke-on-Trent Community Health Services Dignity Champion is
Angela Cole (Hospital Matron)
Contact Telephone Details: 01782 673781
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