Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 18 May 2024 at 10:54
Last week, Marika talked about Time to Lead, and I know that a lot of questions were raised about it in the Trust-wide Q&A session on Thursday as well.
I don’t want to go back over everything Marika said, but I would like to reiterate that this project is about changing things for the better. Many of our LOMs have told us that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to look after big teams of up to 40 people, whilst also being expected to carry out a critical operational role. Time to Lead is about addressing this, and reviewing the way we work operationally, to make sure that we provide all of you with the right level of support, time, and development opportunity in order to continue delivering the very best care for our patients.
At the current time we are consulting with those teams across the frontline and EOC, to gather their thoughts and feedback about possible changes. This will extend to other areas in the future. I know that change can be unsettling, but we want to help and support our managers to build great teams, and this is an important part of that process. If you are concerned or have any questions please speak to your line manager or contact your Executive Director.
Moving forward
Since I joined the Trust eighteen months ago, my role has been a mix of working locally with our teams and representing EEAST regionally and at national events, including chairing an ambulance service workshop organised by The Circuit, regarding the registration and upkeep of Public Access Defibrillators.
Within EEAST, I’ve been working closely with our pharmacy team, led by our pharmacist Andy Cooke, to update Patient Group Directives which are essential to ensuring we have the correct support in place for our colleagues within the Trust who prescribe and administer medication. I’ve also been working closely with Melissa Dowdeswell and the clinical team around clinical governance and support for the expansion of Advanced Practice. Expanding our Advanced Practice is integral to the delivery of our Clinical Strategy; not only will it allow us to increase our critical care resources within the region, but it will also increase our support for urgent care both in our communities and through the new system community hubs.
As Medical Director I’ve also had to complete training for my new statutory roles here at EEAST, which include Caldicott Guardian, Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer and Responsible Officer for appraisal & revalidation. Whatever your role within the organisation it is vital that we all keep up to date with our mandatory training, it is in place to keep everyone safe at work.
Record breaking mental health support
As a clinician, and as a colleague, I know first-hand the importance of good mental health support. Knowing where to turn if you need help is vital, particularly when it comes to suicidal thoughts. We should all be making sure that our teams and colleagues know how to access our health and wellbeing information. But one of our LOMs, Joe Cartwright, is taking things a step further and attempting to break a world record to raise awareness of suicide and the prevention support on offer to those who may need it.
You can read Joe’s story in full here, but the attempt will take place at the beginning of July and see him and a friend tandem paddle boarding a staggering 209 miles non-stop along the Thames, including navigating 44 lock gates. Joe, best of luck, and I’d encourage all of us to do our bit and make sure we regularly check in and have a chat with friends, family, and colleagues.
If you feel you need additional support or are struggling after a particularly difficult day or a challenging incident then please remember that you can make use of our TRiM trained colleagues. Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) is about supporting you in confidence through a peer-led conversation and signposting you to additional support that you may benefit from. You can read more about it here but it is an incredibly important service and one that we should all be aware of.
Getting involved in Pride month
June is Pride month, and we are hoping to be represented at as many of the dedicated events across the region as possible, but we do need your help. Last year, the LGBT+ network attended as many events as they could manage, alongside the day job, but this year they’re looking for support from colleagues to help with EEAST stands and talk to members of the community and their families about roles in the Trust and the opportunities available to them.
The events are open to everyone and are all about celebrating inclusion within the community. We’ve shared a list of the events taking place within the region on here so please have a look and if you would like to go along and take part as an EEAST representative then you’ll find contact details for the LGBT+ network in the article.
Thanks to Great Notley
Thanks to the HART team at Great Notley for helping to facilitate the visit and speech from Labour Leader, Sir Keir Starmer, on Monday. As part of the NHS, it is important in terms of transparency that the party in opposition can have access to our sites to help outline their positions on public policy. Thank you to all of you who helped make this work.
Thank You Thursday
This week’s Thank You comes from West Norfolk.
‘Every day of your careers you give care, medical attention and hope to individuals in need and their families, sometimes with a positive outcome and sometimes not. We just wanted to let you know that we are totally in awe of you, and for what you do you are heroes, from the first call handler we spoke to, to the crew that came to our little girl. To us not all superheroes wear capes, some wear NHS, NARS and HEMS badges and uniforms.’
Thanks for all that you do.
Dr Simon Walsh
Medical Director
Published 25th May 2023