“Hello, my name is…”
Just 4 words :A small NHS habit that quietly reduces conflict and violence
In the NHS, conflict rarely starts with aggression.
It usually starts with fear, confusion, pain, or loss of control. Without rapport this easily escalates..
That’s why one of the most effective PMVA and violence-reduction tools isn’t physical at all. It’s verbal.
The Hello My Name Is campaign was started by Dr Kate Granger, an NHS doctor who experienced care from the patient’s side while being treated for cancer.
She noticed something simple but powerful:
staff were often clinically excellent, but they didn’t always introduce themselves.
Being cared for by “the nurse” or “the doctor” — rather than a named person — felt impersonal, disorientating and unsettling.
Her message was clear:
When people don’t know who you are, anxiety rises. And anxiety drives behaviour.
Why introductions matter in PMVA
From a PMVA perspective, poor communication is a risk factor.
Patients and service users may already be:
When staff approach without introduction or explanation, uncertainty increases — and uncertainty fuels resistance, aggression and escalation.
A calm, respectful introduction is an early preventative control.
It reduces perceived threat before behaviour escalates.
In GoodSense PMVA training, rapport isn’t a “nice to have”.
It’s a core de-escalation skill.
A proper introduction:
People are far less likely to escalate towards someone who feels calm, respectful and human.
Supporting violence reduction and restraint reduction
NHS services are rightly focused on:
Clear introductions and early rapport:
They show that staff took reasonable, proportionate steps to prevent escalation — before moving to management strategies.
To discuss our conflict resolution training please contact info@www.good-sense.co.uk
