Healthcare innovators Eco Ninjas will be presenting their innovation at the Houses of Parliament next month in April 2026, after receiving an invitation to speak to policymakers alongside Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber.
The invitation reflects growing national interest in Eco Ninjas’ approach to improving patient experience, communication and safety in operating theatres.
The team’s work began with embroidered theatre hats, which revealed major challenges around laundering, durability and waste, as hats couldn’t be reused when staff changed roles or left the department. These insights led to the development of a fully reusable, centrally laundered theatre badge hat system that meets NHS infection control standards and can be worn interchangeably like scrubs, reducing the loss of bespoke embroidered designs.
The badges clip on and off for easy cleaning, and colour‑coded size tags streamline sorting in busy hospital laundries. The range is fully inclusive, offering multiple styles including long‑hair options, braids and a hijab version to ensure comfortable, culturally respectful identification for all staff.
Eco Ninjas is currently part of the Propel Healthtech Accelerator programme, where it is continuing to refine and scale its work within the health sector.
The visit will provide an opportunity for the team to:
- Showcase real‑world insights and outcomes from partnering directly with NHS trusts.
- Demonstrate how frontline‑led innovation can drive meaningful improvements in patient safety, communication and sustainability.
- Contribute to wider parliamentary conversations on reducing waste, inefficiency and avoidable cost in public services.
- Highlight regional NHS and healthtech innovation, giving it visibility and influence at a national level.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Danielle Cheketts, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Eco Ninjas said: “Giving patients the ability to instantly recognise who is caring for them brings reassurance, restores dignity and creates meaningful human connection. For clinical teams, clear identification is not a luxury, it’s a foundation for safer communication and more confident decision making. This is the type of innovation that has the power to change culture, not just practice.”
Jude Gordon, Workstream Lead for Scale-Ups on the Propel programme, said: “We’re proud to support Eco Ninjas on the Propel Healthtech Accelerator. Their commitment to improving patient safety, dignity and experience is clear, and their invitation to Parliament reflects the team’s passion and determination to make a real difference. Their work not only enhances patient experience but also strengthens communication within clinical teams – an essential foundation for safer, more effective care. With sustainability an increasing priority for the NHS, their innovation shows how thoughtful design can reduce waste while improving outcomes. We’re delighted to be part of their scaling journey.”