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Organisations line up to join our Care campaign
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The Care campaign launched by Nursing Standard and the Patients Association six months ago had a clear objective: to refocus the priorities of healthcare organisations on patients' four principal concerns. These were a lack of compassion from some staff, inadequate pain relief, poor nutrition and unmet demands for help with toileting.
Next week we shall reveal which NHS trusts and health boards across the UK have signed up, and the numbers are hugely encouraging. There has been a groundswell of support from managers and nursing staff who share our aspiration that high-quality care should be the primary focus of every healthcare provider.
Some organisations are seeking to address patients' concerns by embedding best practice among all their employees. One such trust, Royal Cornwall Hospitals, held a high-profile launch event last week, which was attended by staff, local patients' representatives and the regional media. The trust wanted every member of staff and every potential patient to know that it is committed to ensuring everyone who passes through its doors receives a high standard of care.
Nurse director Andrew MacCallum puts it like this: 'Caring is what we do and I want our community to know that yes we care and yes we are listening. The Care campaign is an excellent way to engage our staff and patients about the standards we expect at our hospitals. We are encouraging patients and carers to speak to our staff if we are not meeting their expectations.'
The trust has revised its patient experience surveys to focus on the Care campaign's four key objectives, and is in the process of recruiting patient ambassadors who will monitor progress. The Royal Cornwall is introducing the changes from a position of relative strength - recent patient surveys suggest its nursing staff are already providing a high-quality service.
It is refreshing to see the trust's chief executive, nurse director and other senior staff place such great store on the importance of fundamental care. In the next phase of our campaign Nursing Standard will be encouraging other trusts and health boards to follow their lead.
editorial: june 6 :: vol 26 no 40 :: 2012
Further reading
Read the news article: Trust transforms ward culture after adopting Care campaign
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Nursing Standard is published every Wednesday by RCN Publishing Company Ltd, the publishing company of the Royal College of Nursing.
It seeks to promote professional excellence, and encourage creativity and innovation in nursing, midwifery and health visiting practice. Nursing Standard also aims to enhance nurses' and healthcare assistants' career development and to help them achieve and maintain a healthy and rewarding working environment. Nursing Standard is editorially independent and the opinions expressed are not those of the RCN or of the contributor's employing organisation unless specifically stated.
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