THE ambulance service that covers South Derbyshire has launched a set of ‘Dignity Pledges’ in an effort to eradicate poor care for patients.
East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has introduced the new scheme in an effort to challenge poor care and educate and inform people who might not be up to standard.
This comes after South Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler hit out at EMAS after she learned that patients, particularly the elderly, were facing long wait times for treatment.
Zoe Rodger, EMAS adult safeguarding lead said: “Our pledges remind us what dignified care looks like.
“They help to raise awareness with patients and staff alike, while signifying our commitment to continuous improvement to the quality of care and the experience had by the people who use our service.
“The pledges include encouraging staff to challenge poor practice; provide privacy during each interaction with the service; and to take accountability and reflect on our actions to improve practice.
“For the public, we ask that they treat our staff with respect and dignity, and support our clinicians by cooperating with their requests for example, responding to questions about the accident or incident as calmly as possible, enabling our crews to give timely and appropriate care.”
Staff and members of the public were encouraged to help shape the proposed dignity pledges via a survey.
Miss Rodger added: “This certainly doesn’t mark the end of the initiatives we are launching to improve care
“We are soon to launch a new communication booklet to help our clinicians interact with patients who have difficulties communicating, such as those with a learning disability.”
The new EMAS Dignity Pledges are to:
l Respect colleagues and patients;
l Encourage and support each person in their own independence;
l Support patients, the public and colleagues to enable them to communicate and understand each other’s needs;
l Provide privacy and dignity during all interaction with our service;
l Engage with our service users and colleagues to ensure they are informed and involved;
l Challenge poor practice and have zero tolerance of abuse;
l Staff will have to take accountability and reflect on their own actions to improve practice across the whole of the service.
