Have you ever been mistaken for someone else? We all have two things that are most commonly used to identify us: our appearance and our name. And one or the other isn't always enough for people to be able to correctly recognise us.

A Very Patient Twitter User

In 2007, a teacher from Virginia became an early adopter of Twitter and used his real name as his handle — @johnlewis. Little did he know he shared a name with the popular UK high street store. As Twitter grew and companies began using it to communicate with customers, the inevitable started happening. Since then, John has received up to 50,000 tweets every year from expectant customers asking questions or making complaints — becoming a celebrity in his own right with his always patient, often witty responses.

Mistaken in Theatre

Believe it or not, there are reports of birthing partners being mistaken for anaesthetists and asked to administer drugs. At best it's a light-hearted story, but this type of confusion can cause patient anxiety and delays which, in times of emergency, could be catastrophic.

Experience and Identification

A 2009 study of nearly 3,000 inpatients found that 75% of them could not name a single doctor, nurse or other member of staff involved in their care. Of those who said they could remember a name, only 40% of them got it right — amounting to fewer than 1 in 10 patients knowing the name of someone looking after them.

Not knowing who is around us inhibits our ability to communicate effectively. With extra PPE masking people's appearance, and ID badges not allowed in theatres due to infection control, patients face the prospect of being surrounded by nameless, faceless strangers — bystanders in their own care.

Colleague to Colleague

Lack of easy identification isn't just a problem for patients — it causes real problems between staff too. A 2004 observational study found that 30% of all exchanges between clinical staff in operating rooms displayed errors in communication, mostly centred on lack of clear roles and responsibility. Of those problematic exchanges, 1 in 3 directly led to outcomes that put the patient's safety in jeopardy.

Research published in 2018 confirmed: using people's names leads to better exchange of information, which results in more effective teams and improved patient safety. Crucially, omissions and conflict arising from poor communication can result in adverse patient outcomes.

The Solution

A simple and easy solution is this: a named theatre cap. A reusable, personalised hat that has your name and role boldly displayed across the front. Wearers are instantly recognisable as a staff member, with their role and a first name to be addressed by.

There's real power in using first names — hearing our name is proven to activate patterns in the brain which make us more alert and responsive. Named theatre caps give patients comfort and clinicians certainty. Both factors have a significant impact on the success of the procedure and the recovery of the patient. They are greener and more cost-efficient for the NHS, too.

Our Mission

Warwick Med is committed to helping build a safer, greener NHS. We're leading the change from disposable theatre caps to custom, reusable hats — working with hospitals and trusts across the country to help save lives, save the NHS money, and do our bit to save the planet too.