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There is a big gap between what care users want and the current services available. Health minister, Ivan Lewis, wants to close the divide The ‘Dignity in care' campaign I launched last year really seems to have caught the imagination of many organisations which work with older people. Perhaps this is because it is not just about the basic everyday tasks of caring for people, vital though they are, but the quality of care delivered. Having talked to many older people around the country, I learned that it is often the little things which can make a difference – a note pinned to a curtain guaranteeing privacy, being asked whether they would like to be addressed as ‘Joan' or ‘Mrs Smith', a choice of good, nutritious food at a time convenient to them. Sadly, there is often a gap between their aspirations and the service actually delivered. And I want to close that gap. So, I believe dignity is central for local authorities, health bodies, the third sector and private sector, if they want to meet our over-riding aim, to improve the lives of the people we serve. It should also be an essential part of the contract that commissioners offer when they look to purchase services for health and social care in future. I want local authorities and lead members to become dignity champions, who can take action at a local level. So far, more than 300 champions have signed up at www.dh.gov.uk/dignityincare, and more than 5,000 people have accessed an online good practice guide at www.scie.org.uk which contains vital information, advice and tips on how local services can improve dignity. My 10-point dignity challenge is a clear statement of what people can expect from services such as privacy, dignity and the right to complain where necessary without fear of retribution. Oversight and scrutiny committees can use their role constructively to look at where their local services are at in relation to dignity. Councils are also being invited to apply for Beacon council status and Dignity in care will become a criteria for success. More details will be available from the Improvement and Development Agency website at www.idea.gov.uk after 20 March. Our aim should be to work towards a situation where society is as outraged by the neglect and abuse of older people as it is, rightly, about the mistreatment of children. The generation which built this country has a right to expect no less. Leeds case study Leeds City Council has taken up the dignity cause energetically by appointing a project manager to drive forward the agenda, by involving older people's groups in setting the criteria for giving out £1m capital grant for care homes in the city, provided by the Department of Health, and most importantly, by carrying out an inquiry into dignity in care via the Leeds Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Board. This follows previous visits to the city by ministers to hear from local people about how dignity could be improved in care services. A listening event supported by Age Concern, held at its city centre drop-in café, produced many ideas for improvement, such as support for carers, improved community support, staff training and more care home inspections. The scope of the scrutiny inquiry is to look at what is currently in place in Leeds to help raise awareness of dignity among providers, staff and other stakeholders, and to see whether the needs of older people are being met in local hospitals and care homes, with particular reference to their nutrition, privacy and physical environment. It is also reviewing how people's needs are assessed to see if the procedures adopt a dignified approach and also the skills, competence and leadership needs of the workforce to ensure staff treat older people with respect for their dignity. The scrutiny inquiry will examine the role of inspectorates and regulators to see if they regard dignity as central so that ‘breaches of dignity are regarded as serious failures.' The council's scrutiny board has had a number of meetings so far, and carried out a series of site visits. It has taken evidence from Leeds PCT, social services, the Older People's Forum, Older People's Champions and the relevant inspectors from CSCI and the HCC. A final report will be issued soon. Contact James Woodhead on 0113 247 6769.

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Dealing in dignity

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