STAFF and patients are backing a national campaign to improve communication at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Nurses, doctors, executives and administrators were on hand on Monday to help launch #Hellomynameis — an initiative to encourage staff to properly introduce themselves every time they speak to a patient.

The campaign was founded by terminally ill Dr Kate Granger, from Leeds, who found she was not given a friendly greeting by each person who treated her.

The patient leader at the hospital, Joyce Gustard, who was treated there for lymphoma, had a similar experience to Dr Granger.

She said: “The majority of the staff were brilliant. It’s only a minority, but through this we are hoping to teach everyone to introduce themselves.

“People are often rushed and sometimes the time hasn’t been taken. Sometimes staff look you in the chest, instead of the eyes.

“It can be difficult if you have to tell somebody some bad news, but it’s important.” Director of nursing for network care at the hospital, Sharon Herring, is hoping staff will greet a patient every time they see them, even on the same day.

She said: “Patients see lots of different doctors and nurses when they are here, and they may need reminding who they are speaking to.

“We can’t argue with the patients — we need to listen to them.”