The NHS Trust that runs the Lister Hospital is to ask for permission to change its name – so that it would become the East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust.

According to reports considered by the Trust’s board on Wednesday, May 1, the addition of “Teaching” would reflect the “ongoing and significant teaching commitment across the organisation”.

And, they say, recognition of the Trust’s work to educate the current and future workforce would increase their “ability to train, recruit and retain the best staff”.

At the meeting the application for “teaching status” was backed by the board – and will now be submitted to the Department of Health for consideration.

In a ‘showcase’ document attached to the application, Trust chair Anita Day says: “For decades the Trust has been working with partners to develop our current and future workforce.

“Teaching status will provide validation of the amazing and indeed award winning work taking place every day across our organisation.

“Teaching status also gives us a platform to grow and strengthen our links with partners, including the University of Hertfordshire as they prepare to open the first undergraduate medical school in our county.”

According to the report considered by the Board, the Herts and West Essex Integrated Care Board had suggested the Trust consider adding in the word “hospitals”.

But, says the report: “We have previously considered this option and ruled it out as lacking inclusivity as many services (renal in particular) do not take place in hospital and unnecessarily lengthening our name.”

And it says that the ICB is happy to support the proposed name of East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust.

At the meeting medical director Justin Daniels said the application was a “really important step” for the organisation.

Non executive director Peter Carter said he wholeheartedly supported it. He highlighted the number of “hurdles’ involved in the application – and suggested the symbolism was important.

Should the Trust be granted permission to change its name – to include Teaching – Mr Sewell-Jones assured the board that branded materials would change over time to minimise any cost of transition.

“The world has moved on from when you changed a name and you had to throw away reams and reams of paper – because so much is electronic,” said Mr Sewell-Jones.

“Whilst we would want to change some of the signage we wouldn’t immediately go and replace every polo shirt with the wrong name.

“We would do that over time to minimise the cost of any transition.”