‘(Hello,) My Name Is’ and the importance of recognition and respect in care
- Roiyah Saltus
- Dec 26, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 15, 2024
26th December 2023, 22:15 pm
As a death doula, a core focus is on those who are dying and as such our work is both holistic and person-centred. Person-centred care in the context of death and end-of-life care prioritises the physical, cultural, psychological, sociocultural, and spiritual needs of the patients and their families. This approach emphasises shared decision-making, developing therapeutic relationships, and considering the patient's holistic well-being.
Key to a person’s wellbeing is their sense of recognition – of being seen and respected. Dr. Kate Granger's campaign, titled 'Hello, My Name Is,' promotes the importance of healthcare professionals introducing themselves by name when delivering care. The campaign aims to improve communication and establish a more personal connection between healthcare workers and patients. As Dr Granger remarked, often times when she was first unwell, professional laid hands on her with no cursory introduction. At her most vulnerable she felt not seen and not respected. Her campaign sought to address this.
Names are crucial in healthcare as they humanise the interactions between patients and practitioners. When a healthcare professional introduces themselves, it creates a sense of trust, reassurance, and respect. It allows patients to feel more comfortable and confident in their care, knowing the name of the person treating them. Additionally, using names fosters better communication, enabling patients to raise concerns or ask questions more openly. Overall, the campaign emphasises the significance of personalising healthcare experiences and enhancing the patient-provider relationship through the simple act of introducing oneself. Over the last decade "My Name Is” campaign has gained significant support and has been widely promoted, with the aim of ensuring that individuals are treated with respect and their identities are valued.
There is another "MyNameIs" campaign by Race Equality Matters, which focuses on the correct pronunciation of people's names, particularly for those from diverse cultural backgrounds. This campaign aims to ensure that individuals' names - both patients and staff - are pronounced correctly, respecting their heritage and identity.This again speaks to the many ways we can – from the start of our engagement with people – ground a person-centred focus and ethos. It speaks to the ways in which societal inequities impact on all aspects of life and the need to be attentive of the often-accumulated impact of multiple sources of societal ‘mis -recognition’ on people’s lives and dying journeys.
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