County health trust signs up to drive to improve patient care

The ‘Hello my name is…’ campaign was spearheaded by Dr Kate Granger, a young hospital consultant from Yorkshire who works in elderly care, to improve the patient experience in the UK and across the world.

She became frustrated with the number of staff who failed to introduce themselves to her when she was in hospital.

Her campaign on social media platform Twitter is aiming to inspire nurses, doctors, therapists, receptionists, porters, domestics and staff in all roles.

Dr Granger, 33, has terminal cancer, and has made it her mission in whatever time she has left to get as many members of NHS staff as possible pledging to introduce themselves to their patients.

The campaign reminds staff to go back to basics and introduce themselves to patients properly.

Dr Granger talks about this as “the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care” and sees it as the start of making a vital connection, beginning a therapeutic relationship and building trust between patients and healthcare staff.

The campaign has been endorsed by well known figures including Prime Minister David Cameron, the Countess of Wessex, Bob Geldof and actress Drew Barrymore.

Janet Thomas, Deputy Director of Nursing at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are committed to providing the very best in compassionate care for the people of Lancashire.

“It is important for us that our patients have a great experience whilst in our care.”