New award gives public the chance to thank healthcare staff

Web news item dated 6 February 2009 calling on patients and the public to nominate doctors for good service.

Patients and the public are being invited to nominate doctors for good service.

The Department of Health has launched The People’s Award for Dignity in Care for doctors and all health & social care staff to officially say thank you and highlight the good work they do.

Anyone involved in professional care-giving is eligible, from nurses and social workers, to hospital porters and nursing home employees, providing they have gone the extra mile to ensure dignity and respect in any area of health and social care.

Phil Hope, Minster for Care Services says: “None of us want to imagine that if we suffer from an illness, disability or need care in our older years that we will not be treated with the dignity and respect that every individual deserves. With this award we want to thank staff - whether they are careworkers, nurses, people who run care homes or people who run whole social service departments, for the fantastic differences they are making to people’s lives, both directly and by inspiring others to follow their lead.”

You can nominate at www.dignityincare.org.uk or by calling 0870 000 1100.