Dignity warning over care for OAPs

The Healthcare Commission inspected 23 trusts who all said they complied with national standards on providing good quality care in hospital.

But checks revealed that some were falling short in areas like nutrition and ensuring privacy.

Following the inspections, which included interviews with staff and ward observations, the Commission told several trusts they must improve. Although it found no major breaches of Government standards, it did issue warnings.

Five of the 23 trusts complied with all the standards, 10 were told to improve and eight were given the most serious warning in the form of a notification letter saying they were at risk of not complying with national standards.

A final list determining which trusts have met the standards will be published in October.

The standards on dignity in care - set down by the Government - include providing nutritious meals and help with eating if people need it.

Several charities have raised concerns that older people are at risk of being malnourished because of poor standards, such as patients having their meals removed before they have had chance to eat them.

The Government standards also say older people's need for privacy and confidentiality should be respected.

The Healthcare Commission warned that some trusts will undergo further checks, including unannounced visits, where there are "clusters of evidence" suggesting a particular problem.