Doctor with terminal cancer diagnosis takes her compassion campaign on tour

A campaign begun by a terminally ill doctor to encourage healthcare professionals to show more compassion to patients is to go on tour.

Kate Granger

The #Hellomynameis… campaign was started three years ago by Kate Granger shortly after she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. At the time, the specialist registrar in geriatric medicine from Leeds was left frustrated by the lack of compassion shown to her by healthcare staff who failed to introduce themselves to her.

Since it was set up, the campaign has evolved into a national concern with more than 400,000 staff in 90 NHS organisations supporting it. It has also been given backing by health secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Speaking at the London Nurse Show today, Dr Granger, who has made a decision to discontinue treatment for her condition, said she was planning to take the campaign on a week-long tour around England, Scotland and Wales. Accompanied by her husband, the 32-year-old doctor will visit 15 NHS hospitals to spread her message.

She said: 'I have an ambition that before I die I will be able to walk into any organisation in the UK and see that they have embraced my campaign. The things that really matter to me are very simple. The little acts of kindness that nurses do for patients matter. In fact they are not little at all, they are huge. It takes 10 seconds as a nurse to introduce yourself and say a kind word to a patient. Saying hello is more than just common courtesy, it is the first step in giving compassionate, person-centred care.'

Ms Granger and her husband plan to begin their tour on June 17 in Leicester.