Kate Granger

Kate Miriam Granger MBE FRCP (31 October 1981 – 23 July 2016) was an English geriatrician and campaigner for better patient care.[1] In 2011 she was diagnosed with desmoplastic small-round-cell tumor (DSRCT), a type of sarcoma, and subsequently started the "#hellomynameis" campaign encouraging healthcare staff to introduce themselves to patients.[2] Granger also raised over £250,000 for local cancer charity, the Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal (now Leeds Cancer Centre Charity).

Kate Miriam Granger

MBE FRCP
Granger in June 2015
Born(1981-10-31)31 October 1981
Huddersfield, England
Died23 July 2016(2016-07-23) (aged 34)
Leeds, England
Cause of deathDesmoplastic small-round-cell tumor
NationalityEnglish
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
OccupationGeriatrician
EmployerMid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Known for
  • Activism for better patient care
  • Fundraising

Early life

Originally from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire,[2] Granger studied at the University of Edinburgh, obtaining a BSc in Pharmacology in 2002 and an MB ChB in 2005.[3] After qualifying she returned to West Yorkshire to work, obtaining a position with the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield.[2]

Illness

Granger first became ill when on holiday in California in July 2011 with her husband Chris Pointon. She was treated in the Emergency Room in Santa Cruz when her kidneys failed. She returned to Leeds and was given further tests. When told the diagnosis, she knew that DSRCT that had metastasized had "an utterly dismal prognosis". She was treated with P6 protocol chemotherapy and endured painful treatments which she described in detail in her blog "The Other Side and the Bright Side".[2][4]

She described how the news that her condition was incurable was broken to her:

If you can put yourself in my position – I'm 29 years old, I know I've got cancer, I think it's confined to my abdomen so I'm expecting to have an operation, maybe some chemotherapy and possibly a cure. I'm in a side room. I can hear everything that's going on outside. I'm in pain and alone. A junior doctor comes to see me to talk to me about the results of the MRI scan I'd had earlier in the week. I'd never met this doctor before. He came into my room, he sat down in the chair next to me and looked away from me. Without any warning or asking if I wanted anyone with me he just said, "Your cancer has spread". He then could not leave the room quick enough and I was left in deep psychological distress. I never saw him again. I am a little bit psychologically scarred by that experience.

Granger was the subject the second ever Dying Matters Annual Lecture 2014, with a filmed conversation with Granger.[5]

After her diagnosis, Granger continued her medical training and qualified as a consultant geriatrician.[2] During the latter stages of her illness, she was treated at St Gemma's Hospice, Leeds.[6] She died on 23 July 2016, aged 34.[7]

Campaigns

#hellomynameis

Granger started the #hellomynameis campaign in 2013,[8] chiefly using Twitter, where by the time of her death, she had over 40,000 followers.[9] The campaign name was the Twitter hashtag #hellomynameis, which has received more than 1.5 billion Twitter impressions.[10] It was intended to encourage healthcare staff to introduce themselves to patients, following her experiences that she discussed in her book The Other Side.

On 31 August 2015, the second anniversary of the campaign, she recalled:[11]

I had been moaning to Chris about the lack of introductions from the healthcare staff looking after me. Being the practical optimist that Chris is, he simply told me to 'stop whinging darling and if it is that important to you do something about it.' So we did.

Kate spoke at the NHS Confederation annual conference in 2014 on the campaign.

As of February 2015, the campaign has been endorsed by more than 400,000 doctors, nurses, therapists, receptionists and porters across over 90 organisations, including NHS Trusts across England, NHS Scotland, NHS Wales and the NHS in Northern Ireland.[12] She had spoken passionately at many health conferences and her campaign is supported by the former Prime Minister David Cameron, Nicola Sturgeon, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, many celebrities, and a significant number of leaders in health organisations in the UK[13] and overseas. The campaign continues each 23 July (the anniversary of her death) across the NHS.[14] In 2020 Leeds Cares published videos from staff to celebrate Kate and continue to campaign to improve patient care.[15]

Fundraising

Granger donated proceeds from the sales of her two books, and sponsored events such as a tandem skydiving jump, to cancer research.[2] In total she raised over £250,000 for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre.[6]

Awards and honours

In February 2014, NHS England created the Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care. These annual awards are in honour of Granger to "recognise an individual, team or organisation that has made a positive difference to patient care".[16] In 2017, the publicly voted for Yorkshire Choice Awards introduced the Kate Granger Award for Outstanding Achievement.[17] Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society launched the European Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care in 2018.[18] In 2019, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust gave an award in Kate's honour as part of their Leeds Hospital Heroes for making a positive difference on the patient experience.[19]

In June 2014, Granger was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, the first doctor in training that the college had elected as a fellow, in recognition of her contribution to healthcare.[20]

Granger was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to the NHS and improving care.[21] Her award was presented to her at Buckingham Palace by the Prince of Wales, in June 2015.[2] Also in 2015, she was made an honorary Doctor of Science by London South Bank University.[22]

In 2016, Granger received a special achievement award from the BMJ, honouring her for her work on the "Hello, my name is" campaign.[23]

References
  1. O'Dowd, Adrian (26 July 2016). "Kate Granger". BMJ. 354: i4144. doi:10.1136/bmj.i4144. ISSN 1756-1833. PMID 27460067. S2CID 32290422.
  2. "Campaigning doctor Kate Granger dies of cancer". ITV. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  3. "What was lost". University of Edinburgh. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  4. "Kate's Story". Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  5. "Kate Granger's story". Dying Matters. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  6. "Doctor Kate Granger dies after hitting £250k cancer charity goal". BBC. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  7. "Dr Kate Granger dies after cancer battle". ITV. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  8. "Hello My Name Is..."
  9. "Kate Granger". Twitter. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  10. "NHS England » Dr Kate Granger". www.england.nhs.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  11. Granger, Kate (31 August 2015). "Happy second birthday to #HelloMyNameIs". WordPress.com. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  12. "Hello my name is... | Department of Health". 25 August 2015.
  13. "Terminally ill doctor Kate Granger's 'my name is' campaign wins support". BBC News. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  14. "'Hello My Name Is' Day marks over £400,000 raised in memory of Dr Kate Granger". Leeds Cares. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  15. "Video Celebrates International "Hello My Name Is" Day". Leeds Cares. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  16. "Inaugural compassionate care awards nominees shortlist announced" (Press release). NHS England. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  17. Choice, Yorkshire (17 August 2016). "Yorkshire Awards Recognise Dr Kate Granger's Achievements with New Award". yorkshirechoice. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  18. "European Kate Granger Awards | HIMSS Europe". www.himss.eu. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  19. "News". www.leedsth.nhs.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  20. "Courageous Leeds doctor is youngest for top medical award". Yorkshire Evening Post. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  21. Pantry, Lindsay (30 December 2014). "New Year's Honours: MBE for inspirational Leeds doctor". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  22. "Honorary Awards Ceremony". London South Bank University. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  23. Kmietowicz, Zosia (5 May 2016). "BMJ Awards 2016 honour doctor behind "Hello, my name is" campaign". The BMJ. 353: i2478. doi:10.1136/bmj.i2478. PMID 27151084. S2CID 33745615.

Publications
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