The charity Age UK has teamed up with the NHS Confederation and Local Government Group (LG Group) to set up a new commission focusing on dignity in care provided to older people in hospitals and care homes, many of whom are reliant on incontinence pads and pants.

The move follows recent reports on patient complaints from the Health Ombudsman and the inquiry into circumstances at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Experts will research what people expect in terms of dignity in care and establish ways to improve the situation across health and social care services.

Age UK chair Dianne Jeffrey explained: "This commission aims to build understanding of why and how older people's essential care is going wrong and to set out practical solutions for getting it right in the future."

Cllr David Rogers, chairman of the LG Group's community wellbeing board, observed that public concern about the experiences of some patients and care home residents was "widespread and legitimate".

He added: "The LG Group is very keen to play our part in finding practical ways in which we can raise standards and eliminate bad practice."