Dignity Day at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is today holding a “Dignity Day” to celebrate the hospital’s efforts to promote and maintain patient dignity.

Several initiatives are under way to ensure privacy and dignity for all patients, whether or not they have disabilities or difficulty communicating their needs.
They include:

• Single sex accommodation on all hospital wards

• Measures to ensure that patients are properly fed, including:
– Protected mealtimes to ensure that patients do not miss out on their meals while undergoing tests etc.
– Red trays to identify patients who needs help with feeding;
– Red beakers for patients suffering from dementia (a small pilot study showed these are more recognisable to dementia patients, resulting in a 45 per increase in usage);
– The recruitment and training of volunteers to help feed patients

• The appointment of a liaison nurse for adults with learning difficulties, along with a series of measures designed to help integrate people with learning difficulties into our hospital services

• The use of a assessment tool for all in-patients, to identify those who may be at risk of pressure ulcers and help to make them more comfortable

Adrian Ing, regional officer for the Royal College of Nursing, commented: “We welcome the very good work done by staff at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to address the issue of patient dignity.

“It’s incredibly important for staff to treat all patients with the respect they deserve. When you are very busy it’s easy to overlook the fact that a few minutes spent asking how they would like to be addressed and whether they have any particular needs before you carry out any nursing interventions can make a really big difference for patients.”

Also taking part in the Dignity Day is Debbie Green, from East Carlton, who is campaigning for fully quipped public changing rooms for disabled adults: “Having had a disabled son who sadly died at the age of 18, I know how difficult it is for carers to help disabled adults use public toilets. We need rooms with hoists and height-adjustable beds and toilets. There are currently no such facilities in NHS hospitals– we are hoping to have one at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital which would be the first in the country.”

Notes for editors

The Dignity Day is open to all and is taking place from 10am to 3pm in the East Atrium at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital