More than 400 000 NHS staff sign up to “Hello, my name is” campaign
BMJ 2015; 350 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h588 (Published 03 February 2015) Cite this as: BMJ 2015;350:h588
The “Hello, my name is…” campaign (hellomynameis.org.uk), in which NHS staff are encouraged to introduce themselves to patients, is being supported by over 80 NHS organisations in England, Wales, and Scotland and by more than 400 000 doctors, nurses, receptionists, and porters.
Kate Granger, 33, is an acting consultant in geriatric medicine at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust who launched the campaign after being treated for terminal cancer two years ago, as she felt frustrated with the number of staff who failed to introduce themselves to her in hospital.
The campaign, which started on Twitter (#hellomynameis), has been endorsed by many well known figures including the prime minister, David Cameron; the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt; the Countess of Wessex; Bob Geldof; and Drew Barrymore. And on 2 February more than 80 NHS organisations officially signed up to the campaign.
Granger has said that introducing oneself to patients is “the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care.” She sees this as the start of making a vital human connection, helping patients to relax, and building trust.
In a recent BMJ Confidential interview to the question “What personal ambitions do you still have?” Granger answered, “I’d like to see #hellomynameis in every single NHS hospital and for every member of staff to value person centred care and the real, tangible difference it can make.”1 Patients from across the country have said that it makes a big difference when staff introduce themselves.
In a press statement Granger said, “I’m incredibly excited about bringing #hellomynameis to Mid Yorkshire Hospitals and even more excited about the collaborative launch of the campaign. I think the main messages from the campaign about high quality communication and always treating our patients as people with respect and dignity fit perfectly within the trust’s core values.
“I really hope my legacy will be exactly that: putting compassionate practice right at the heart of healthcare delivery every single day.”
Notes
Cite this as: BMJ 2015;350:h588