News

A local NHS Trust has introduced new name badges aimed at improving experiences for patients with cognitive and visual impairments.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust provides services for people of all ages, across a range of settings, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

They have introduced new staff name badges, featuring the employee's name in large, bold black text against a yellow background.

Having a yellow background and bold text increases contrast, which can support patients with both cognitive and vision impairments when reading information.

For patients with conditions such as Dementia or Alzheimer’s, having the staff member's name as the focus of the badge may give a sense of friendliness and support faster recognition if the patient has met the staff member before.

The badges also feature the text ‘Hello, my name is’, reminding staff of the importance of introducing themselves to their patients. 

Natalie Willetts, Director of Nursing and Quality said, “We’re committed to making our services accessible and removing barriers that might impact the experience of our patients.

“We hope the introduction of our new name badges will initiate effective introductions from our staff and support ongoing communication, helping to put our patients at ease while they’re in our care”.

Ally Middleton, Head of Education and Clinical Development said, “It may seem like a small change but it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. I hope that by introducing these eye-catching badges and making a conscious effort to introduce ourselves, we are taking steps to improve patient experience and to promote an inclusive environment”.

The Trust plans to launch the new badges across their learning disability and dementia services in the coming weeks, and has already started to issue them to new employees.

#HelloMyNameIs is an international campaign launched by the late Dr Kate Granger MBE to highlight the importance of introductions between healthcare staff and their patients.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust is committed to provide outstanding care to patients, and create a more inclusive environment for anyone under their care.

To keep up to date with the latest developments of the Trust, please visit the news section of their website.