Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Compassionate care – a superpower or just part of the job?

Healthcare staff are all capable of compassionate care but it’s also about a willingness to challenge authority

NHS culture: how can the ‘empathy gap’ be bridged?

I recently won an award for compassionate care. I was thrilled to be acknowledged in this way. But, reflecting on the award, I’ve had to ask myself: “What is it all about? Why have I been honoured, and what does ‘compassionate care’ actually mean?”

It appears to me that I won the award for doing my job – for showing basic care and compassion, and simple human decency. This is the bread and butter of nursing, surely? Why a special award? If bus drivers got a commendation for driving a bus would we not all be up in arms about an award we would claim as ludicrous?

Related: Duty of candour: a fear of whistleblowing still pervades the NHS

Related: It’s time to stop bullying in the NHS – for the sake of patients

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