NHS enlists ‘Parky’ to champion better care standards

Broadcasting personality Sir Michael Parkinson is helping to promote good practice in care services for older people.

Mr Parkinson, who is in his early 70s and has become a National Dignity Ambassador, launched a campaign tour of England that care services minister Ivan Lewis hopes will raise the profile of the government’s Dignity in Care campaign.

Mr Lewis said the government had made progress in raising standards of care for elderly people but intended to go further and saw this as a long-term partnership between the government, managers, front-line staff, families and the wider community.

At the heart of the campaign is the notion of ‘respect to dignity for the individual’.

Mr Parkinson said: “I intend to use my role to make a real difference and ensure the issue of dignity moves to the heart of all NHS and care services.”

Paul Cann, director of policy at Help the Aged, told the Daily Express the care of older people “often falls short of the essential standards of dignity”.