Somerset FT and J&J MedTech named as Highly Commended at the 2026 HSJ Partnership Awards

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is proud to announce that its project, Reusable theatre caps in theatre with name and role, has been recognised as Highly Commended at the 2026 HSJ Partnership Awards. The Awards celebrate the people and partnerships improving outcomes for patients across the NHS.

This year saw more than 240 entries, with 160 projects shortlisted and just 25 receiving top honours from a panel of expert judges on the 19 March at Evolution London.

Somerset FT received the commendation in the Patient Safety Collaboration of the Year category for its work introducing reusable theatre caps featuring clearly printed names and roles. The initiative is a collaboration between Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s Services and Solutions Team and the trust’s Orthopaedic Department. The caps were independently procured by the trust through its Sustainability Pilot, supporting both patient safety and environmental goals.

The reusable caps represent a practical solution to a longstanding challenge in operating theatres, where masks, scrubs and visors can make it difficult to identify colleagues quickly in a busy, high‑risk environment. The trust had previously highlighted how patients and staff often struggle to distinguish team members, with traditional single‑use theatre hats offering no visible identification.

Survey feedback from the pilot demonstrated the impact of the change, with 71% of staff reporting improved communication. Colleagues described feeling more included, noticing a greater use of names and experiencing fewer hierarchical barriers:  all contributing to safer, more effective communication in theatres. Patients also expressed appreciation for knowing who was caring for them, noting that visible names helped them feel more at ease.

Mr Andy Stevenson, orthopaedic consultant and a strong advocate for sustainability in the NHS, worked closely with Eco Ninjas Ltd, who supply the hats, and J&J MedTech throughout the trial. He said:

“We are incredibly proud to be recognised at the HSJ Partnership Awards. This commendation reflects the dedication of our teams and our partners to creating safer, more connected clinical environments. Introducing reusable theatre caps has not only strengthened communication and teamwork in our theatres but also supports our commitment to more sustainable ways of working. It’s a simple change delivering meaningful benefits for colleagues, patients and the planet.”

Reusable hats also offer a significant environmental benefit. Traditional theatre hats were essentially single‑use plastic and disposed of after each procedure, whereas the reusable versions can be worn hundreds of times. Colleagues have already found them more comfortable once worn in, and they can be laundered centrally like scrubs. This improves practicality and reduces waste, supporting the trust’s sustainability ambitions.

The initiative also addresses staff identification challenges more effectively than embroidered hats, which are difficult to manage at scale, cannot be centrally laundered, and do not accommodate temporary visitors such as students or radiographers. The new hats use pop‑off badges inspired by the “Hello my name is” project, enabling every person in theatre regardless of role or length of placement to be clearly identified.