16 different healthcare organisations around the country and reaching more than 2000 people. Kate goes out to universities to speak to students, has the ear of politicians and recently appeared on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour as part of a discussion about terminal illness and death. Nevertheless, there is
still work to be done. ‘A few months back I was sick after chemo, and really unhappy about being in hospital,’ Kate says. ‘I was half into my pyjamas, without my hat on, when the doctor barged in. He talked at me for a good couple of minutes before I had the courage to say, “And you are?” He said, “I’m one of the doctors”. I said, “That’s not good enough. Tell me who are you and what you do, and ask me how I want to be addressed before we go any further.”’ As a doctor herself,
Kate is uniquely placed to understand the pressures staff face. ‘I don’t blame that doctor,’ she says, ‘nor the one who gave me my prognosis. They just didn’t know any better. There are so few resources and so many targets that it’s easy to lose sight of what matters. It’s draining too – every person you deal with needs you to give a bit of yourself. But making that connection, is so, so important. For a patient, it makes all the difference in the world.’
By way of example, she cites another of her own experiences – this time, a situation where everything was done right. ‘During my next chemo cycle, I developed a fever and had to be hospitalised again,’ she says. ‘It was junior doctor changeover day, and the consultant brought the whole team with him. I could have felt like a circus attraction, with all those people round the bed. But the consultant started by saying, “This is Kate, I’ve been looking after her for a while now. Why don’t you all introduce yourselves?” Suddenly I was an active participant in my own care.’
Sharing insights Now Kate is trying to pass on her own insights to other members of the team. ‘If I know I’ve got to go and give someone bad news, I will take a junior colleague with me. It’s so important that they have the opportunity to be part of these conversations – otherwise how are they going to learn? Simulations can’t prepare you for what it’s really like. I was told my cancer had spread by a junior member of staff. He wasn’t prepared. There should have been someone more senior there with him, supporting him, taking that responsibility.’ In 2014, the NHS launched
the Kate Granger Awards, to recognise individuals and
lsbu.ac.uk/alumni | South Bank_19
teams who are making a positive difference to patient care. ‘It’s about celebrating compassion,’ says Kate. ‘There are so many awards out there that are focused on patient outcomes – all the things you can measure – but not about the things that make our job so special and unique. These awards are my legacy. It means I can die knowing that I’ve left my mark.’
But the story is far from over. Kate continues to lobby, to write, to travel the world publicising
#HelloMyNameIs and, of course, to tick more things off that bucket list. And the campaign itself continues to go from strength to
strength. ‘I think the reason why it’s struck a chord is that it’s universal, and it’s authentic,’ she says. ‘I had no strategy. I had a simple message, and a passionate voice. I really believe that if you get the basics right, all the other more complicated stuff just falls into place.’
Find out more about the campaign at www. hellomynameis.
org.uk and follow Kate on Twitter @ GrangerKate. You can also read the rest of her bucket list at
bucketlist.org/list/ kategranger/
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