Gwynedd Council shows dignity and respect to all

Thursday, 14 May 2009

Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and a new programme aims at ensuring that older people and the vulnerable in our communities get the same level of respect as everyone else.

A Dignity and Respect charter, which outlines this, was launched at an event organised by Gwynedd and Anglesey’s Health and Care Communities – a group which provides health services – at Technium Cast, Parc Menai, Bangor on 3 April, 2009.

The charter tackles four spheres:

• Showing respect
• Privacy
• Self respect
• Independence

Gwynedd and Môn’s Health and Care Communities are confident that the new charter will safeguard dignity by ensuring privacy for a person receiving care; ensuring choice; getting the person’s permission before providing care service; ensuring the person receives advice and advocacy.

To emphasis this message, Dignity Challenge cards have been published which will be distributed to care homes, care staff and the families of people receiving the service. The cards outline the charter and remind people of their rights.

The launch was attended by more than 100 people, including service users and those working in the field. It was an opportunity to get an overview of the service and to have their say on the Charter’s work programme.

The meeting was chaired by Dr Lyndon Miles, a local doctor from Bangor and chairman of the Gwynedd Local Health Board and Health Partnership, Gwynedd Social and Welfare Care. Keynote speaker was Professor Clare Wenger, Emeritus Professor at Bangor University, an expert on the study of aging. She spoke of her own personal experience of the health and care service. Janette Hamilton of the North West Wales Health Trust also discussed the new plans.

During the launch, delegates heard of some of the experiences of service users through the medium of a play, written by Mared Lewis from Anglesey.

Councillor John Wyn Williams, Gwynedd Council’s Care Portfolio Leader, said:

Dignity is an essential part of your quality of life. It is important that we, as a community, recognise that a person’s dignity contributes towards their health, wellbeing and independence and is a vital element of the best possible care.

Promoting the Dignity in Care charter allows the provision of care, in all circumstances, which promotes – rather than undermines – a person’s self respect.