Press release: NHS Confederation responds to Healthcare Commission report on dignity in care

27 Sep 2007

Commenting on the Healthcare Commission's (HcC) report, Gill Morgan, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation which represents over 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS, said:

 "We welcome this report.  It is clear that NHS organisations have done a great deal of work in ensuring that dignity in care is taken seriously and their work is to be congratulated.  However, we also recognise that there is a great deal of work still to be done.

 "We need to make sure that proper standards of dignity are fully embedded into the work of NHS organisations so that high quality care is consistent for all patients.  This will require effective systems to listen to what patients want, leadership from the top and a zero tolerance approach to poor practice among all staff.   

 "I am sure our members will be encouraged by this report.  NHS organisations will want to build on the improvements that have been made as quickly as possible so that all patients are treated as they would want to be treated all the time."

Read further information on the NHS Confederation's position on older people  

Review of dignity in care - Service provider information from the Healthcare Commission

Notes for editors

The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

Contact details

Contact Niall Smith 020 7074 3304 or 077 6777 0309 or Ruth Kennedy 020 7074 3312 or 078 8447 3086. For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.

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