THE NATIONAL PENSIONERS CONVENTION HAS LAUNCHED TODAY ITS NEW CODE ESTABLISHED TO SAFEGUARD OLDER PEOPLE'S DIGNITY IN CARE

NEW CODE ESTABLISHED TO SAFEGUARD OLDER PEOPLE'S DIGNITY IN CARE.

Britain's biggest pensioner organisation, the National Pensioner Convention (NPC) today (Wednesday February 22nd) launched a high profile Dignity Code which sets out minimum standards for the dignified treatment of older people, whether in hospital or in the community. The code has been widely supported by both those in the care sector and across the political spectrum. Signatories includes the care minister Paul Burstow and his opposite number Liz Kendall, along with Dame Jo Williams of the Care Quality Commission, Dr Peter Carter of the RCN, and Lord Stewart Sutherland, chair of the Royal Commission on long-term care.

The NPC is also calling on the public to support this initiative by signing an on line petition. Campaigners are hoping to attract over 100,000 signatures to trigger a debate in the House of Commons on the need to improve the care of Britain's elderly. The petition can be signed at: -

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/27050

 Dot Gibson, NPC General Secretary said: "Every week we are struck by another headline which reveals the neglect and ill treatment of older people either in their own home, a care home or hospital. This has got to stop. Much of what the Dignity Code calls for is to treat individuals as human beings, rather than as second-class citizens who can have their feelings ignored and overlooked. Providing someone with personal dignity must be a basic requirement in any care setting - and there must be no excuse for denying someone their right to be treated with respect. The code should be seen in every GP's surgery, social services department, hospital ward, and nursing home. Individuals and their families should have confidence that certain practises will be unacceptable and that they can demand better treatment. This is a first step on the long road to getting 21st century care for Britain's older patients. For more information contact Neil Duncan-Jordan on 07940-357-608. 

The signatories to the NPC Dignity Code include: -

Dot Gibson General Secretary National Pensioners Convention, Paul Burstow MP, Care Minister. Dave Prentiss General Secretary UNISON, Brendan Barber General Secretary TUC, Dr Peter Carter Chief Executive and General Secretary RCN, Baroness Sally Greengross EHR Commissioner, Lord Stewart Sutherland Chair Royal Commission on Long Term Care, Rodney Bickerstaff Chair National Pensioners Education and Welfare Centre, Gary Fitzgerald Chief Executive Action and Elder Abuse, Ciaran Devane Chief Executive for Macmillan Cancer Support, Michelle Mitchell Chief Director Age UK, Ruth Marks older People's Commissioner for Wales, Dame Jo Williams Chair Care Quality Commission, Martin Green Chief Executive English Community Care Association, Allan Bowman Chief Executive Social Care Institute for Excellence, Penny Thompson Chief Executive General Social Care Council, Brendan Johnston Chief Executive Northern Ireland Care Council, Annette Bruton Chief Executive Scottish Care Inspectorate, Professor Alan walker Sheffield University, and Professor Julienne Meyer city University and London.