Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 18 May 2024 at 13:18
It’s good to talk
Last week we shared the results of the survey we carried out recently with colleagues living with a disability and neurodivergence. Thank you to everyone who responded. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this as the results give us a much clearer idea of how colleagues are feeling and what their experience of working here at the Trust is really like. I hope that these colleagues also felt that sharing in this way was beneficial to them, having a place to air your views and share your ideas is extremely important.
As an organisation, it’s vital that we make ourselves open and accessible for everyone who wants to work here. I firmly believe that the more we talk and share the difficulties we may face, or may have overcome, the more we can learn and improve things for others, and of course it is also hugely beneficial for our mental wellbeing.
I wrote a blog recently about my own experience with cancer, and the length of time it has taken me to be able to open up and talk about my story. This was partly because of the culture I grew up in, where feelings were not for sharing publicly, and partly because I was in denial about what was happening. For me, this resulted in burn out and I was forced to stop and take stock.
This afternoon I am taking part in the first leadership Learning Circle led by our new Men’s Wellbeing Network. We will be talking about men’s health issues and what I learned from the challenges I faced. Having spaces like this, to start these conversations is a step in the right direction and I am pleased to be working within an organisation that is placing so much value in supporting all of us with our health and wellbeing. You can find the full list of support available here. You can also contact the Men’s Wellbeing Network directly at mwn@eastamb.nhs.uk or the Disability Support Network at disabilitysupportnetwork@eastamb.nhs.uk
National Day of Staff Networks
This week, you may have seen our posts on social media celebrating the National Day of Staff Networks. Here at EEAST we are extremely fortunate to have the support of six staff networks which are available to all our staff and volunteers. The networks are there to offer support and help us to build a truly inclusive organisation. Each one is chaired and managed by a team of colleagues who already have a permanent role within the Trust, and we’re incredibly grateful to them all for the additional time they put in to making sure we are able to keep our networks thriving. You can find details of each of our networks here.
Celebrating our nurses
Tomorrow (Friday 12th May) is International Nurses Day, which is about celebrating the contribution our nursing colleagues make to the work we do and the difference they make to the lives of our patients. So, to all our nursing colleagues based in the Trust, thank you from all of us for your support and contribution to life here at EEAST.
Awards shortlisting complete
Friday will also see us hold the last of the judging panels for this year’s Stars of EEAST Awards. On a personal level, it has been a privilege to be involved in part of this process, reading the nominations that colleagues have taken the time to submit on behalf of those people who they feel have gone above and beyond was truly inspiring.
For the remainder of May, the next step is for us to notify everyone who has been shortlisted and send them their invitation to the event. Those of you receiving Long Service awards will also be receiving your invitations during this period. This is a big undertaking, so please do bear with us if you don’t hear from us immediately.
Coronation Medals for frontline workers
It was announced late last week that frontline emergency service workers who have completed five full calendar years of service, and people who actively contributed to the King’s Coronation, are among those who are eligible for one of 400,000 new Coronation medals.
As yet, we don’t have clarification on which teams will qualify under the banner of ‘frontline’ but as soon as we have this information, we will share it with you. In the meantime, we’ve published all the detail we have been given so far on Need to Know.
Thank You Thursday
This week’s Thank You comes from a GP surgery based in Longwater, Norfolk.
‘On behalf of the partners and all the surgery, I would like to place formal appreciation to the teams that attended the surgery. The swiftness of arrival, calm and collected way of work and reassurance to staff and patients was absolutely excellent. We worked together in a tight space and awkward positioning. Please tank the crews for their efforts and brilliant communication skills'.
Thank you and take care
Hein
Dr Hein Scheffer
Director of Strategy, Culture and Education
Published 11th May 2023