A TERMINALLY ill doctor behind an internationally successful social media campaign has praised staff at Wirral Hospital Trust for their compassion towards patient care.

The Trust, which runs Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals, is one of more than 100 NHS organisations supporting Dr Kate Granger’s #hellomynameis campaign.

It reminds health professionals to say a simple 'Hello my name is…' greeting before any care is delivered to the patient they are looking after.

Dr Kate Granger has incurable cancer. During a hospital stay last summer, the 29-year-old from Yorkshire noted that many staff looking after her simply forgot to introduce themselves.

She said: "As a doctor, I’m a very keen observer as to what happens to me as a patient.

"It just felt wrong as it was such a basic step that was missing. Instead of complaining, I decided to do something really positive and that’s where #hellomynameis came from."

Wirral University Teaching Hospital invited Dr Granger to talk to staff after the Trust launched its #hellomynameis campaign earlier in May.

Jill Galvani is Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the Trust. She said: “We know that bringing Kate here to Wirral cements what this all means for patients and carers.

"It's the absolute fundamental that you introduce yourself to the patient before you give them any care. It’s what we would all expect.

"I'm sure members of the public think why do we need to remind staff, but in the hurlyburly of looking after patients, we sometimes forget.

"That's why we think this is really important to instil into our patient care."

Dr Granger agreed, adding: "When people are overwhelmed and rushed off their feet, I think the first thing to go is that compassionate response towards a patient.

"I don't blame staff for that as I know how busy the NHS is.

"I think we all need a gentle reminder now and again that the personal touch really matters to patients and that’s what they take away from their healthcare experience."

Since Dr Granger’s first tweet to start the #hellomynameis campaign on August 31, 2013, more than 35,000 people follow her social media Twitter account.

On average the hellomynameis hashtag is being used almost 5,500 times per month: "I can't believe what’s happened almost two years later and that it's having such an important impact on patient care as that's what this is all about.

"It's devastating to get a cancer diagnosis at my age, especially one that you’re not going to recover from. I just wanted to use my own experience to help others.”