Dignity for patients

South Birmingham Community Health colleagues at Moseley Hall and West Heath hospitals marked national Dignity Action Day recently with a range of activities highlighting our commitment to delivering responsive care that priorities individual service users' needs and interests.

Acitivities at Moseley Hall included greeting card-making and pet therapy, in the shape of an extra visit by regular volunteers Bob Hunt and his dog Oscar. Meanwhile, at West Heath, staff raised held a matron's tea party with home-made cakes, teas and coffees.

Pampering sessions including pedicures from physios plus indoor golf and soft darts for the more energetic helped to convey a serious message in a fun, inclusive way.

Throughout the week, colourful displays carried information showcasing our organisation's work to promote patient dignity, including feedback from patients and stories of individual service users about their overall experience of inpatient care.

Moseley Hall Hospital matron Julie Payne said: “We work very hard across all our sites to make sure patients are offered a range of events and activities to enhance their overall experience of staying in hospital. Dignity Action Day was a great opportunity to showcase that."

SBCH's adults and community division strives to keep dignity in care high on the agenda and colleagues have worked hard over the last year to sign up Dignity Champions - individuals who are prepared to make a commitment to promoting and furthering the ethos that being treated with dignity is a basic human right, not an optional extra.