Privacy is the freedom of intrusion and dignity is being worthy of respect.
Aim
To achieve high standards of patient dignity and to put patient experience high on the agenda.
Objectives
To provide a framework for improving the patient experience in all care areas within our dental practice around six key themes:
Attitudes and behaviours
Personal world and identity
Personal boundaries and space
Communication between staff and patients
Privacy and confidentiality of personal information
Privacy, dignity and modesty.
General Principles
Every member of staff has a duty to see that the privacy and dignity of all patients are respected.
The practice consistently monitors the environment within the practice with regard to privacy and dignity issues.
Respectful attitudes and behaviours are promoted and assured preventing patients experiencing offensive and negative attitude and behaviours.
Patients and relatives/carers should be given clear information on how to raise concerns and to whom.
Problems in relation to standards and guidelines on privacy and dignity in care of patients shall be monitored and reported through the incident reporting system.
Attitudes & Behaviours – Patients feel that they matter all the time.
Respectful attitudes and behaviours are promoted and assured, including consideration of non-verbal behaviour and body language.
Issues about attitude and behaviour towards minority groups are addressed with individual staff.
Personal World & Personal Identity – Patients experience care in an environment that actively encompasses individual values, beliefs and personal relationships.
Stereotypical views are challenged, and the valuing of diversities is demonstrated.
Individual needs and choices are ascertained and continuously reviewed.
Personal Boundaries & Space – A patient’s personal space is actively promoted by all staff.
The name that the patient wants to be called is agreed and noted.
The acceptability of personal contact (touch) is identified with the individual patient.
Personal and private space is respected and protected for individuals and privacy is effectively maintained.
Communication between Staff and Patients - Communication between staff and patients takes place in a manner that respects their individuality.
Access to translation and interpretation services is provided as appropriate.
Information is adapted to meet the needs of individual patients are identified.
All information is factual in plain language with no jargon or abbreviations and given at the required level of understanding.
Relevant communication exchanges are recorded.
Privacy & Confidentiality of Personal Information – Information is shared with consent to enable care
Informed consent is sought when using trained interpreters.
Precautions are taken to prevent information being shared inappropriately.
The practice’s, consent, confidentiality policy, Caldicott principles and information security policies must always be adhered to.
CCTV – The Company uses closed circuit television (CCTV) images to protect the Company's property and to provide a safe and secure environment for employees and visitors to the Practice.
Cameras are located at strategic points throughout the Practice premises, principally at the entrance and exit points. The Company has positioned the cameras so that they only cover communal or public areas, they have been sited so that they provide clear images. All cameras are also clearly visible.
Appropriate signs are prominently displayed so that employees, clients, patients and other visitors are aware they are entering an area covered by CCTV. Images produced by the CCTV equipment are intended to be as clear as possible.
Maintenance checks of the equipment are undertaken on a regular basis to ensure it is working properly and that the media is producing high quality images. Images are recorded in constant real-time (24 hours a day throughout the year) As the recording system records digital images, any CCTV images that are held on the hard drive of a PC or server are deleted and overwritten on a recycling basis and, in any event, once the hard drive has reached the end of its use, it will be erased prior to disposal. In normal circumstances, this will be a period of 2 months.
Privacy, Dignity & Modesty – Patients care actively promotes their privacy and dignity and protects their modesty.
Patients are protected from unwanted public view whenever appropriate.
A private area is created or made available.
Approved By: Rosy Oli
Date Published: 17/10/2024
