Care Support Independence

Shaping the future of care and support and promoting national dignity

Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis will visit Manchester today as part of a national tour to ensure that all people using care and health services are treated with respect at all times. He will also hear views from local experts on shaping the future of care and support services.

The debate on the future of care and support involves stakeholders, including local councillors, representatives from local authorities, the NHS and third sector joining the Minister to discuss their views on how best to develop a system for care and support that meets the needs of society well into the future.

The tour, which will visit every region in England, aims to raise the profile of the Dignity in Care campaign, and to continue the debate on the future of the care and support system launched by the Prime Minister in May.

The Dignity in Care Campaign, launched by Ivan Lewis last year, aims to inspire and equip people to drive up care standards and encourage people to become Dignity Champions, spreading best practice and giving advice to other health and social care workers. The Government wants to double the number of dignity champions to more than 3000 by the end of the year and has recently appointed Sir Michael Parkinson as the first National Dignity Ambassador to help raise the profile of this important agenda.

Ivan Lewis said: “I am pleased to be in my home city today, to discuss two of the most important issues facing society – how to promote dignity in care for all elderly people and how we create a high quality, affordable care and support system for a rapidly ageing population.

“People want, and have a right to expect, services with dignity and respect at their heart. We’ve invested £117 million to help, but this isn’t just about money. I want NHS and Social Care services to apply a simple test - if it wouldn't be good enough for my Mother and Father why should it be good enough for someone else's?

“In 20 years’ time a quarter of the entire adult population will be over 65 and the number of people over 85 will have doubled. We expect over 1.7 million more people to have care and support needs in 20 years time.

“I also want to hear views on how we provide a care and support system for the future that promotes independence, choice and control for everyone.

“This tour highlights our commitment to put patient dignity and respect at the heart of care services and to create a care and support system that meets the needs of our ageing population and their families.”

Notes to Editors:

Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis is at two events in Manchester today:
The first is a debate on the future of care and support, where stakeholders, including local councillors, representatives from local authorities, the NHS and third sector, will join the Minister to discuss their views on how best to develop a system for care that meets the needs of society well into the future. This will take place at the Manchester Renaissance Hotel.
A national debate on the future of care and support was announced by the Prime Minister on 12 May.

People can contribute to this debate in the following ways:
1. Via one of the stakeholder or public events
2. Via our website www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk
3. By emailing careandsupport@dh.gsi.gov.uk
4. Be writing to Care and Support Team, Room 543, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2NS.

The second event is part of the Dignity in Care Campaign to ensure all people using care and health services are treated with respect at all times. This will take place at Doves Nest Nursing Home.

Over 2,300 Dignity Champions have signed up all committed to taking some action locally to improve dignity in care (orginal target of 1,000).

For further details or to sign up to become a dignity champion see www.dignityincare.org.uk

In order to promote the campaign we have enlisted the help of a new Dignity Ambassador, Michael Parkinson, who will help spread the Dignity message through media work and engagement with stakeholders. Michael himself is signing up to become a Dignity Champion to show how close to his heart the Dignity Campaign is.

Thousands of people in care homes and hospices have benefitted from £117m investment to promote dignity through improvements to their care environment High quality care services that respect people’s dignity should:

1. Have a zero tolerance of all forms of abuse.
2. Support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member of your family.
3. Treat each person as an individual by offering a personalised service.
4. Enable people to main tain the maximum possible level of independence, choice and control.
5. Listen and support people to express their needs and wants.
6. Respect people’s right to privacy.
7. Ensure people feel able to complain without fear of retribution.
8. Engage with family members and carers as care partners.
9. Assist people to maintain confidence and a positive self esteem.
10. Act to alleviate people’s loneliness and isolation.

Further events for the dignity campaign and the future of care and support debate will take place from June to November this year.