Call for Evidence – Dignity and Respect in Hospitals

Following the launch of the Commissioner’s Review on whether older people are treated with dignity and respect whilst in hospital, the Panel of Inquiry sought written evidence from older people who have been, or were in, a general or community hospital in Summer 2010.

The Panel also welcomed evidence from older people’s families and friends, advocates and organisations working with and for older people from all sectors, including statutory and voluntary organisations, trade unions and professional associations about the experiences of older people whilst they are in hospital.

The Panel specified that evidence should relate to hospital stays of more than five consecutive days and be based on experiences within the last two years.
Evidence was requested on a number of issues and asked for people to respond to any or all of the points below which applied to their circumstances or interests:-

• Personal privacy, including issues with mixed sex wards and facilities 
• Communications, including how people are informed about, and involved in decisions about their care, the type of language used and terms of address 
• Food and nutrition including offering and respecting choice, identifying and providing appropriate assistance 
• Personal hygiene such as condition of hospital bathrooms, assistance with washing if appropriate, and the use of incontinence pads 
• Managing end of life care 
• Recognising older people in all their diversity 
• Planning for discharge including when to plan and how this is communicated 
• Autonomy and identity including access to personal items such as glasses and false teeth and personal possessions 
• Awareness of individual rights and understanding of how to complain 
• Any other examples of good or bad practice related to maintaining dignity and respect.

The Panel of Inquiry did not cover clinical diagnosis or treatment, the transportation of people to and from hospital, or discharge arrangements beyond hospital.
Oral evidence was then sought in Autumn 2010.

Disclosure of information

Both the oral evidence and written evidence in part or in full may be published alongside the Commissioner’s Review.

However, we appreciate that some of the evidence collected maybe of a sensitive and highly personalised nature and we will take all the necessary steps to anonymise examples we are given of poor practice. Information that we consider to be personal data will not be published.