Call to assess nurses for compassion

Nurses should be assessed for their compassion, as well as their academic ability, when they are hired by hospitals and care homes, the Commission for Improving Dignity in Care of Older People recommends.

Funds should be withheld from hospitals that failed to meet high dignity standards, the use of offensive terms such as "bed-blocker" should be banned, and ward sisters should be given the authority to hold staff to account.

The commission was established by the NHS Confederation, Age UK and the Local Government Association.