Somerset hospital staff wear hat badges to improve communication

A hospital in Somerset has begun putting name badges on doctors’ medical hats in an effort to make it easier for patients and staff to identify each other.

Former medical professional Daniella Checketts designed the hats after finding she was being misidentified as other people, including patients, when wearing scrubs during her surgeon training days.

There are some areas where normal badges cannot be worn due to needing to be sterile, or where staff have to wear protective clothing.

Orthopaedic consultant Andy Stevenson said the trial, at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, meant people felt more included and communication was improved.

Ms Checketts, from hospital clothing company Eco Ninjas, said: “There are various barriers to everybody wearing clear name badges in operating theatres, such as when they’re scrubbed – they are sterile, essentially from the neck down.

“Also people that wear lead aprons when they’re using x-rays and fluoroscopy, they can’t really wear a name badge.

“So the easiest way to visibly identify anybody is just glancing above the eyes to their name and role on their theatre hat.”

She said it also benefitted others wearing hospital attire, including students and those who wear it during their partner’s child birth.

Dr Stevenson added: “You have to give over [control] to all of these people wearing unusual uniforms.

“You’re lying on your back and literally all you can see is their head and shoulders and lots of people are doing stuff to you, whether it is the anaesthetic team, the surgical team – portering teams even.

“The feedback we’ve had from patients is that they’ve found it really beneficial, very comforting.”

A spokesperson for the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust said it is looking at ways to roll the scheme out further across its sites with operating theatres, including Minehead and West Mendip.