Staff at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust celebrated the sixth anniversary of an international campaign earlier this month aimed at improving patient experience through providing compassionate care.
The international ‘Hello my name is’ campaign was created by Dr Kate Granger, a registrar in elderly medicine who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The campaign started back in August 2013 when Dr Granger was in hospital herself and noticed that a number
of staff failed to introduce themselves to patients. Dr Granger then asked staff to make a pledge to introduce themselves in future to their patients. This started a hugely successful, international social media campaign with the hashtag #hellomynameis.
Staff have continued to promote and implement this campaign since its launch, six years ago to this date. Wards around the hospitals have now introduced #hellomynameis boards by patient’s beds in order to ensure that they know who is there to look after them, and make a conscious effort to introduce themselves to ensure familiarity and improved care. Photo boards have also been introduced at the entrances to wards with key members of staff on and their job title so that patients can be more aware of who they need to speak to for various issues or queries. This also aims to make staff more approachable and personable.
Sarah Cullen, Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Director at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “We are so thankful to Dr Kate Granger for implementing this fantastic campaign, which has truly improved the care that NHS organisations around the country are providing for our patients.”
“It is always the simple things like an introduction, a smile or eye contact that make patients feel safe in our care, and those simple things can never be underestimated. I am delighted to have seen the huge amount of effort that staff across our hospitals have made to continue to implement this campaign and provide excellent care with compassion.”