3 February 2012
This morning (3 February 2012), the Board of Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals formally gave their backing to a national campaign which champions the rights of NHS patients up and down the country.
With the full support of our Chair Laurence Newman, Chief Executive Matthew Hopkins and Director of Nursing Pippa Hart, our hospitals have publically committed to the 'CARE' campaign, which is being spearheaded by the Patients Association and the Nursing Standard.
The campaign aims to ensure that patients are provided with the level of care that they deserve at all times, and as part of that, the Patients Association has set NHS organisations four challenges. They are:
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C - communicate with compassion;
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A - assist with toileting, ensuring dignity;
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R - relieve pain effectively;
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E - encourage adequate nutrition.
Pippa Hart said: "Our absolute priority is to make sure our patients receive the very best of care at our hospitals, and are treated with respect and dignity at all times.
"To make sure a visit to one of our hospitals is as positive as it can be, we have a whole raft of measures in place to keep our patients comfortable and well cared for, including introducing a special patients' experience training programme for our nurses, doctors and other staff..
"As such, we are more than happy to sign up to the Patient Association's CARE campaign and to give it our full backing.
"We will use the information and evidence provided by the Patient Association to build on and boost the work we already do to ensure our patients are treated with utmost compassion at all times."
Joint Medical Director and consultant paediatrician, Dr Ruth Charlton said: "When people come to our hospitals for treatment – whether they're young or old, male or female – they put their health and wellbeing firmly in our hands.
"As such, we owe them the very best of care, delivered in a way that is respectful, and protects their dignity. The CARE campaign is a wonderful tool in helping us to do just that."
