Banbury and Bicester MP Sir Tony Baldry has signed a code aimed at pressing for better rights for old people in the care system.

The code, organised by the National Pensioners Convention, calls for better training and pay for carers, and improved standards of care.

Sir Tony, pictured, said: “Many of us either have loved ones in nursing homes or retirement and care homes and many of us may well find ourselves spending some of our lives in nursing homes, so how older people are looked after, whether in hospital or in the community, is important.

“The dignity code is adopted by the National Pensioners Convention, ministers, the TUC, Age UK and a whole number of organisations to ensure that elderly people in care and in the community are treated with dignity.

“Put another way, every elderly person in hospital or the community should be treated in a way that we would like our much loved parents to be treated.”

Pensioners’ convention member Janet Cullup asks people to sign the code.

A national dignity day to raise awareness of the campaign takes place tomorrow.

  •  For more information, view npcuk.org/