How WardSign works, why it asks for an NHS email, and what we track.

I have to pay for the AI credits that transform the signs. And because I don't want to have to harden the app against every possible way to hack it and spend my money, I've limited it to NHS email addresses.

I don't store email addresses and I won't ever send you spam or sell your email. I just use it to send you a magic link to log in.

Unfortunately not. The only way I have of keeping a lid on costs is to gate access on an NHS email address. Unfortunately I don't have time to code in exceptions and add individuals manually at the moment. It might come at some point in the future.

I don't track the organisation that people work for, and unless I need to contact them to send the login link, I don't keep their email address at all. The original frustrated text you type in is never stored either.

We do track and show on our front page what broad topics the signs were about that have been created, and what the common reasons were that the AI gave for rewriting them. We do this just so we've got a graph of what most signs are about and how they get improved.

If you opt in via our cookie notice, I use Google Analytics to see how people are using the site, where they're clicking, and to see if there's anything I can improve to make it more user-friendly. Google Analytics is blocked by default and only runs if you accept analytics cookies (you can change or withdraw your choice at any time using Cookie Settings in the footer). I don't share any information with any other parties or advertisers, other than Google (who provide the AI via Gemini and optional Google Analytics).

Yes - the best way of doing this is to download your sign as a PowerPoint (.pptx) file, and then you can add icons, drop in your Trust logo, or redesign it completely. It's totally up to you.

When you print directly from the browser or download a PDF, the “Insert Trust Logo Here” placeholder box is automatically hidden so your sign prints cleanly on a pure white background without wasting ward printer toner.

When you enter your NHS email address, WardSign sends a one-click sign-in link to your inbox. Clicking that link sets a 30-day session in your browser - so there are no passwords to create, remember, or reset.

While you're signed in, WardSign also remembers the final reframed signs you create so you can re-open, edit, print, or export them later without starting from scratch.

Passive-aggressive notes (all-caps, exclamation marks, sarcasm, or blanket blame) trigger psychological reactance and banner blindness on busy wards. WardSign applies six evidence-based techniques when rewriting your sign:

• Implementation Intentions (When → Then): Links a specific situational trigger to an immediate action (e.g., “When finishing your meal, rinse plates immediately”).
• Avoiding the “Negative Norm” Trap: Never states that “nobody is doing X” (which accidentally normalises poor behaviour). Instead, frames helpful practice as the shared team standard.
• Positive Action Substitution: Replaces “DO NOT...” commands with clear instructions on what to do at the point of task.
• Beneficiary Salience: Connects the request to a concrete benefit for patients or colleagues (such as uninterrupted rest breaks or faster equipment access).
• 2-Metre Scannability: Uses verb-first headings and 2–5 structured points so tired staff can read the sign in under 3 seconds.
• Appreciative Closing: Ends with genuine, team-oriented gratitude rather than threats or escalation warnings.

I'm just a person with an interest in human factors and behavioural science. I work in healthcare communications and I volunteer for the London Ambulance Service - other than that, I'm just a nerd who likes playing with AI. You can find more about me at Grahamlehr.github.io.

I'm not associated with the NHS and nothing on this page is endorsed by any NHS Trust or by NHS England. You can choose to use your Trust logo or other information if you want, but if you get in trouble with your Trust or break their rules, it's not my fault. All the information provided on this page and the suggestions made by the AI are provided “as is”, with no promise other than that they're as good as they can be.