Sustainable Reusable Theatre Caps - About Eco Ninjas

Danielle Checketts is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Eco Ninjas, a healthcare innovation company focused on improving patient safety, communication and sustainability in clinical settings. With more than 25 years' experience across NHS clinical practice, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and MedTech, Danielle brings together frontline insight, commercial experience and a deeply personal commitment to improving healthcare.

Danielle began her career as a nurse, where she saw first-hand how busy healthcare environments, especially operating theatres, can make clear identification and communication difficult. Later, through her work in clinical sales, training and medical education, she continued to see the same challenge across theatres, maternity units and wider hospital teams. Her own experiences as a patient, including not always knowing the names or roles of the people caring for her, strengthened her determination to create practical solutions that help staff, patients and families feel safer, more connected and better informed.

Through Eco Ninjas, Danielle champions reusable Identity Scrub Caps with clear, detachable name badges. The aim is simple but powerful: to make names and roles visible, support teamwork, improve patient reassurance and reduce unnecessary disposable waste. Her work is rooted in the belief that small, human-centred changes can have a meaningful impact on safety, culture and sustainability in healthcare.

Danielle is passionate about building a more inclusive and environmentally responsible future for healthcare. She has taken part in national innovation programmes and NHS accelerators, collaborated with NHS teams, universities and industry partners, and continues to advocate for scalable, evidence-led solutions that support both patients and the planet.

Neil Draper is the Co-founder and Director of Finance & eCommerce at Eco Ninjas, bringing more than 20 years' experience in business, finance, systems, logistics and online operations. With a strong background in building and running businesses, Neil plays a key role in turning Eco Ninjas' mission into a scalable, practical and sustainable healthcare solution.

Neil combines commercial insight with a calm, analytical approach to problem-solving. His work focuses on the operational foundations that allow Eco Ninjas to grow, from finance and forecasting to eCommerce, logistics and supplier relationships. He is passionate about creating efficient systems that support a positive customer experience and long-term impact.

As Danielle's brother and co-founder, Neil is closely connected to the purpose behind Eco Ninjas. He understands the importance of clear communication in healthcare and how visible names and roles can support safer teamwork and better patient reassurance. His own experience of hearing difficulties has also strengthened his appreciation of simple design changes that make communication clearer and more inclusive.

Mr Andrew Stevenson is a Trauma and Orthopaedic Consultant Surgeon and Co-chair for the Royal College of Surgeons. After seeing the benefits of Eco Ninjas' Identity Cap range within his own department, Andrew became a Clinical Advisor to the team, bringing valuable frontline surgical insight and a strong commitment to improving safety, communication and patient experience in healthcare environments.

His clinical perspective helps ensure Eco Ninjas' solutions are practical, relevant and grounded in the realities of busy hospital teams. With a clear understanding of the importance of teamwork, role recognition and communication in theatres, Andrew supports the development of products that help staff identify one another quickly and reassure patients at moments when clear human connection matters most.

Through his advisory role, Andrew contributes to Eco Ninjas' mission to make healthcare safer, more inclusive and more sustainable. His support strengthens the clinical credibility behind reusable Identity Scrub Caps and helps demonstrate how simple, thoughtful design can improve communication while reducing unnecessary disposable waste.

Kathryn Harrison is a Band 7 Delivery Suite Coordinator, Professional Midwifery Advocate and Associate Lecturer at the University of the West of England, Bristol, as well as Maternity student placement lead. She brings valuable maternity and healthcare insight to Eco Ninjas, with a strong understanding of communication, reassurance and patient-centred care within busy clinical environments.

She was instrumental in implementing Identity Caps within her maternity department, where the benefits were clearly seen by staff, patients and families. Kathryn now serves as a Clinical Advisor to Eco Ninjas, helping to ensure products are practical, inclusive and designed around the realities of clinical care.

She understands the importance of staff being clearly identifiable, particularly in situations where patients may feel vulnerable, anxious or overwhelmed. This insight supports the development of simple, thoughtful products that improve communication, build trust and make healthcare interactions feel more personal and reassuring. She was also nominated in the Trust awards for the sustainability category in recognition of implementing Identity Caps within the department.