Campaign is aimed at putting patients first

Campaign is aimed at putting patients first

27 August 2014

HEALTH workers are being urged to put patients and their families at ease with the personal touch.

The South Eastern Trust has launched a campaign called Hello My Name Is’ aimed at reminding staff of the importance of introducing themselves and to always discuss any proposed care or treatment with them.

Hello My Name Is will encourage staff to support this approach through making a personal pledge.

Staff will pledge to:

• Always introduce themselves to service users and carers;

• Tell the service user what is about to happen;

• Ask the service user what name they prefer to be known as ;

• Ask the service user.… “is there anything else I can do for you…”

Hello My Name Is was founded by Dr. Kate Granger who, as a terminally ill patient in an English hospital, felt it was important for staff to always introduce themselves before delivering care. 

“I firmly believe it is not just about knowing someone’s name, it is about making a human connection, beginning a therapeutic relationship and building trust,” she said.

“In my mind it is the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care.”

Nicki Patterson, the local Trust’s Director of Nursing, Older People and Primary Care said staff have embraced the campaign.

“As one senior nurse said in his pledge, too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around,” she said.

As part of this campaign, the Trust also launched a ‘Patient Experience’ DVD which provides a snapshot of some of the staff involved in the patient’s experience in the hospital environment and the contribution they make. This can be viewed on the Trust’s Facebook page.