Patients’ views on dignity lead the way for Rochdale ophthalmology team

Company news

Jan 23, 2015

Patients’ views will take centre stage as Care UK’s team at the Rochdale NHS Ophthalmology Clinical Assessment and Treatment Services (CATS) marks national Dignity Action Day on Friday 30 January.

During Dignity Action Day (1 February), health and social care professionals aim to promote dignity in their work; they encourage members of the public to give their views on what dignity means to them and ask what each service can do to make them feel in control of their treatment and visits.

The Rochdale team, who are based at the Croft Shifa Health Centre in Belfield Road, Rochdale, and at the Phoenix Centre, Heywood, will be giving all their patients a comment card and encouraging them to give valuable feedback on whether their expectations were met in terms of maintaining their dignity.

The team, who offer treatment for glaucoma, cataracts and a range of eye-related problems, will also be entering patients’ cards into a prize draw, as well as encouraging staff to provide feedback from completed questionnaires.

Ken Brearton, the team’s cluster service manager, said: “Feedback is vital for a service like ours – we are always interested in what our patients think, and Dignity Action Day gives us a chance to think specifically about the dignity aspects of our work. Giving patients choice and control over their treatment, as well as making sure all our communications are clear, are among the steps we take every day to support dignity in care.

“We all have a role to play in making sure patients feel they are listened to and respected – after all, that’s what we all like to experience ourselves. The questionnaires should help us to offer a service that is really tailored to the individuals in our care.”

Care UK’s ophthalmology service in Rochdale offers a number of treatments to NHS patients across the region, including a glaucoma service, pre-operative and post-operative assessments, cataract surgery, YAG laser surgery, oculoplastics, surgery for retinal diseases, fast track treatment for macular degeneration, a medical retina service and a minor operations service for numerous eye conditions.

Patients are seen at one of the clinics by the consultant-led team of specialists who undertake any assessments and diagnostics tests, either at an initial appointment or shortly after.