RD&E supports #hellomynameis campaign

Over 300 members of staff at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust have pledged their support for the #hellomynameis campaign during a week of engagement activities. The events were part of the national launch of the campaign on 2nd February, which saw over 100 NHS organisations across the country joining together to support the campaign.

The #hellomynameis campaign was created by Dr Kate Granger, a young hospital consultant from Yorkshire, to improve patient experience. Kate became frustrated with the number of staff who failed to introduce themselves to her when she was in hospital. Her campaign, reminding staff to go back to basics and introduce themselves to patients properly, started on Twitter and has inspired nurses, doctors, therapists, receptionists, porters, domestics and staff in all roles ever since. A simple introduction by a member of staff can put a patient at ease and help form a more personal connection between patient and clinician.

The mass launch of the campaign this February has been coordinated by Listening into Action (LiA)®, an engagement programme designed to empower staff to improve patient care. Mid Yorkshire Hospitals – where Dr Kate Granger is now working – are a Listening into Action (LiA) Trust and their own launch of ‘#hellomynameis was a catalyst to invite other hospital Trusts to join them.

However the campaign’s message is one that RD&E staff have already taken to their hearts. Last summer, two Junior Doctors Olivia Jagger and Bethan Loveless, introduced the campaign to the hospital after they were inspired by Dr Kate Granger’s story. In July 2014 many staff members signed up, shared their #hellomynameis selfies on Twitter and helped film special videos explaining why the campaign was so important to them.

The extra members of staff who joined the campaign during this week’s sign up events in the Oasis restaurant means that almost 1,000 members of RD&E staff have now pledged their support to the campaign.

Deputy Chief Nurse/Midwife Tracey Reeves said: “This is a fantastic achievement and we are really pleased that the number of staff supporting the campaign has been boosted by this week’s activities. #hellomynameis is a fundamental part of providing compassionate care for patients and it is a message that we will continue to promote to staff across the Trust.”  

To find out more about Dr Granger’s campaign visit http://hellomynameis.org.uk/home or follow it on Twitter #hellomynameis