When every second counts and every word matters, a customised hat funded by University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity is helping theatre staff more easily connect and communicate with their patients, and one another.
Precision and timing are everything in the operating theatre, where all staff must wear the same colour scrubs and hats, regardless of their role or grade. Plus, those within theatre carrying out procedures must also wear masks, covering most of their face.
Without a quick way to identify each other, staff may find it challenging to communicate effectively, especially in large theatre departments where personnel move between areas. In an emergency, quick communication and teamwork between a variety of staff are crucial to patient care.
To help break down these barriers, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity has already funded reusable hats to over 300 NHS colleagues, with their name and role proudly embroidered on the rim. On the top of the hat, there’s a University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity logo.
Nearly 1,000 permanent staff members – both full-time and part-time – who currently wear disposable hats are able to request their own personalised hat.
The improved design of the hats is already making a positive impact for staff working across the 30 theatres at University Hospitals Dorset’s (UHD) Royal Bournemouth and Poole sites. These vibrant, reusable hats not only promote sustainability but also support clearer communication and stronger collaboration within multi-disciplinary teams by making it easier for colleagues to identify one another.
Doctor Peter Isherwood, a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine at UHD, said: “In the sterile, surgical environment, where everyone is dressed in scrubs, it can be challenging to remember the names of our team members. But the charity-funded hats make it simple to identify each other, learn our colleagues’ names and help patients see who is caring for them.
“This connection empowers people to feel comfortable asking questions and making plans because using names fosters communication and trust. Knowing each person’s role also enhances our workplace and strengthens us as a team, creating a more supportive environment for everyone in the UHD theatres.”
Debbie Anderson, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity’s head of charity, said: “It’s been such a joy to work alongside UHD’s theatres teams and other NHS colleagues on this project and to finally see the customised hats in use across our hospitals. The hats will help everyone who needs them feel more connected and seen from our NHS colleagues to patients and their loved ones, and we’re so proud to have played a part in making that happen!”
Outside of the theatre environment, many other UHD colleagues can also benefit from these custom hats whether they are anaesthetists, interventional radiologists, cardiologists, nurses, midwives and more.
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity has already funded the purchase of around 1,000 reusable hats, with funding still available for more UHD staff who currently wear disposable hats to receive their own customised hats.
The introduction of customised, reusable hats isn’t just a win for patients and UHD staff – they’re a win for the planet and Trust too. By decreasing the reliance on disposable hats, the Charity is helping the Trust cut down on waste and shrink its carbon footprint.
Plus, the shift to reusable headwear will contribute to long-term cost savings by reducing the annual spend on single-use hats. It’s a small change with a big impact, both environmentally and economically.