A couple of weeks ago we met with the Director of Nursing from Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board (ABHB) in Gwent. During the meeting we discussed the work that is being undertaken to ensure that patient dignity and respect is maintained at all times.
As part of this work the health board has produced a DVD based on the poem, "The Crabbit Old Woman", This is a well known poem which has been utilised by many organisations in the voluntary sector universities and the NHS to reinforce the importance of maintaining dignity. It is a very powerful poem, that stirs a range of emotions in the listener.
There is a professional DVD about the poem, starring Virginia McKenna, which is excellent. However, the Health Board wanted to use the poem to highlight that patients are individuals and that privacy and dignity are fundamental components of care, with this being everyone's responsibility. The original poem, of course, focuses on nurses and nursing. But staff at the health board thought that it would be meaningful to have the poem recited by a range of health board staff from board bembers (to include the chairman & chief executive) to domestics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and an accountant.
The health boards DVD has been played to a number of audiences and the feedback has been extemely positive. For futher information email Rachel.Manley@wales.nhs.uk
The final line of the poem: "Look Closer See Me" has been embraced as the health boards Dignity Campaign slogan.
