#CallMe for quality care and patient experience

#CallMe for quality care and patient experience image #CallMe for quality care and patient experience

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Monday 26 April 2021

Patients in Worcestershire’s hospitals will now have a clear and easy way of indicating their preferred name to hospital staff, thanks to the introduction of a new project aimed at improving patient experience.

In hospital we are identified by many ways – NHS number, date of birth, hospital number and our name. The simple #CallMe initiative will see an additional section added to patients’ hospital identification wrist bracelets and name stickers, which can be completed with their preferred name and/or title.

The #CallMe project was spearheaded by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr Michael McCabe.

Dr McCabe said: “The introduction of #CallMe is very simple, but it’s really important. We hope that it will give comfort and reassurance to patients that we respect their identity by addressing them with their preferred name and not assuming that they are most comfortable using their formal birth forename.

“During a vulnerable time, patients and family will be reassured that they are addressed in the way that they choose.

“Whilst the elderly may wish to be addressed formally, others may use a middle name, an abbreviation or even a separate name not necessarily a part of their formal identification data.”

Deputy Chief Nurse, Jackie Edwards added: “We are delighted to be introducing this project, which highlights what is important to us at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals, NHS Trust – putting patients first.

“Ensuring we are communicating with our patients using their preferred name is a valuable step in providing person-centred patient care, and helps us to develop a strong relationship with our patients.

“This is a simple but impactful way for everyone at the Trust to show we welcome, support and embrace difference from our communities.

“Patient respect, dignity, experience and care is the focus of our hospitals and of #CallMe and it shows how the smallest things can make the biggest differences to our patients and their experience in our hospitals.”

The new wristbands and name stickers will be introduced as part of the Experience of Care week commencing Monday 26 April.

On the introduction of #CallMe Patient Public Forum member Alan Richens said: “#CallMe is a simple, discreet and inexpensive way of helping us all to deliver the quality of service that we aspire to, but have not always achieved, especially in relation to diversity.”