Dignity on the wards: improving hospital care for the elderly
Released: 23 November 2011
Action to tackle the sometimes shocking standards of hospital care for older people will be the priority at a high-level conference hosted by Cardiff University.
Leading figures from nursing, hospital management, policy-making and older people’s groups will discuss the findings of the recent University-led Dignity in Practice report.
The study examined dignified care for older people in acute NHS wards in England and Wales. Highly variable standards were found including:
- Poorly-designed, confusing and inaccessible wards
- Concern about nearby patients of opposite gender
- Demoralised staff with poor caring skills
- Patients frequently moved to meet organisational priorities
- Boredom through lack of communal spaces and activities.
Now, the University’s Centre for the Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics (Cesagen) aims to find solutions to the problems it uncovered. The study authors, Dr Win Tadd of Cesagen and Professor Michael Calnan of the University of Kent will present their findings and recommend ways forward to improve elderly care.
Other speakers include Professor David Oliver, National Clinical Director for Older People’s Services, England, Ruth Marks, the Commissioner for Older People Wales, will talk about the elderly’s experiences specifically in Welsh hospitals. Meirion Hughes, a trustee of Age Cymru and himself a service user, will give a perspective from his experience. Jocelyn Cornwell will talk about the King’s Fund’s Point of Care campaign to improve patients’ experiences in acute hospitals. Kathryn Hudson, Deputy Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman England, and Peter Tyndall, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales will also speak.
Dr Tadd said: “We know that dignified care can greatly improve older people’s health outcomes. Having established there is a wide variety in standards, the point is now to change things. This conference will provide solutions from a number of perspectives – patients, service users, policy-makers and health managers. We are hoping it will be of interest to anyone with a concern about older people’s care. More importantly, we are hoping to come up with positive proposals that will make a real difference on acute hospital wards.”
ENDS
Contact name:
For further information, or to attend the conference, please contact:
Dr Win Tadd
Cesagen
Cardiff University
029 2087 0037
TaddW@cardiff.ac.uk
Simon Read
Cesagen
Cardiff University
029 2087 0797
reads4@cardiff.ac.uk
Stephen Rouse
Public Relations Office
Cardiff University
029 2087 5596
Note to Editors:
Notes to editors
1. Cardiff University is recognised in independent government assessments as one of Britain’s leading teaching and research universities and is a member of the Russell Group of the UK’s most research intensive universities. Among its academic staff are two Nobel Laureates, including the winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Medicine, University President Professor Sir Martin Evans. Founded by Royal Charter in 1883, today the University combines impressive modern facilities and a dynamic approach to teaching and research. The University’s breadth of expertise in research and research-led teaching encompasses: the humanities; the natural, physical, health, life and social sciences; engineering and technology; preparation for a wide range of professions; and a longstanding commitment to lifelong learning. Three major new Research Institutes, offering radical new approaches to neurosciences and mental health, cancer stem cells and sustainable places were announced by the University in 2010.
2.Cesagen (Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics) is a research centre funded as part of the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Genomics Network. The Centre is based at the universities of Lancaster and Cardiff. The main objective of Cesagen is to investigate the economic, ethical and social factors that shape natural knowledge in genomics and other life sciences. Cesagen is directed by Professor Ruth Chadwick with Professor Brian Wynne and Professor Adam Hedgecoe as Associate Directors.Further information: http://www.genomicsnetwork.ac.uk/cesagen/
3. The ESRC Genomics Network Launched in 2002 to examine the social and economic consequences surrounding the development and use of genomics, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Genomics Network is one of the ESRC's largest social science investments. The Network.consists of: Cesagen (Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics) a Cardiff-Lancaster collaboration led by Professor Ruth Chadwick; Egenis (ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society) headed by Professor John Dupré at Exeter; and Innogen (ESRC Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovation in Genomics) - collaboration between the University of Edinburgh and the Open University, directed by Professor David Wield; and the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum, led by Professor Steve Yearley, Professor of the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge at University of Edinburgh. http://www.genomicsnetwork.ac.uk/
4. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues. It supports independent, high quality research which impacts on business, the public sector and the third sector. The ESRC's planned total expenditure in 2008/09 is £203 million. At any one time the ESRC supports over 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions and research policy institutes. More at: http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk
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