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06 May 2004
UNISON Scotland and the Daily Record this week backed the thousands
of care and nursing home workers who provide an excellent service
to the elderly and who are appalled at the abuse highlighted in
the paper's special investigation entitled: "Cruelty, Neglect and
Abuse .the Daily Routine in a Scottish Care Home"
UNISON Scottish organiser for health, Jim Devine said: "Today's
generation are indebted to these people who all through their lives
fought for, created and paid for the welfare state and they deserve
to be treated with dignity and respect in their old age.
"The incidents highlighted in this investigation are truly appalling
and this union and its members are happy to stand alongside the
Daily Record - the first time ever this union and a national newspaper
have joined forces - to campaign against this kind of abuse."
Now UNISON Scotland are calling on all its care worker members
to 'blow the whistle' on the abusers - both the workers and the
care home owners - who are making the lives of Scotland's elderly
so miserable.
In conjunction with the Daily Record, UNISON Scotland has sponsored
a web page on the UNISON Scotland website. On this page care workers
and members of the public can record their worries, complaints or
suspicions in complete confidentiality regarding any care home or
care worker who is not following the National Care standards set
down by the Care Commission.
The form can be accessed on http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/carealert.
Joe Di Paolo, UNISON's Scottish organiser for local government
also added: "This investigation and result has to be a clarion call
for all of us to drive up standards in all our care and nursing
homes to ensure that all elderly people are receiving the best possible
treatment."
With this in mind UNISON Scotland is calling on the Scottish Executive
to immediately implement a Scottish-wide care home strategy which
includes:
a. Proper staffing levels
b. A health and safety strategy
c. A training policy
d. Quality pay and conditions
e. Recruitment standards.
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