Bedford Hospital

PRESS RELEASE

As part of its commitment to maintaining the privacy and dignity of its patients at all times, Bedford Hospital celebrated the first ever national Dignity Action Day on Thursday, March 25.

Dignity Action Day was organised by the Department of Health to raise awareness about the importance of dignity in healthcare. Bedford Hospital marked the day by celebrating the developments that have already been made around privacy and dignity, and by encouraging staff to sign up as dignity champions and look for new and innovative ways to safeguard the privacy and dignity of their patients.

Over the last year Bedford Hospital has implemented a raft of measures to improve the privacy and dignity of its patients including investing £490,000 to improve facilities for patients and eliminate mixed-sex ward accommodation. All wards now have separate toilet and washing facilities and the day surgery unit, Tavistock Ward, has been highlighted by the Department of Health as an exemplar for same sex accommodation.

The Trust is also launching new initiatives including new patient gowns and a curtain clip which patients can use to pin their curtains together and indicate that staff may only enter their cubical with permission.

Deputy Director of Nursing, Debbie Marrs says: “We are fully committed to continually improving every aspect of the care we give, particularly around preserving the privacy and dignity of our patients.

“Dignity Action Day was a good opportunity to promote the importance of privacy and dignity, celebrate the progress and achievements we have already made and to encourage our staff to become the driving force behind future improvements.