Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 18 May 2024 at 11:54
Access to the stack
This week we launched the first stage of our initiative to stream appropriate calls to urgent community response colleagues across Hertfordshire and West Essex, instead of using an ambulance response.
The plans allow category 3 calls and below to be transferred to urgent and emergency care colleagues in community services – meaning those patients can get the care they need faster, as well as releasing more ambulances to focus on emergencies.
We will be testing this work over the next few weeks and aim to begin to roll this out across the whole of our region during November.
Control Room Week
To coincide with International Control Room Week, on Monday we launched a new film focusing on the important role carried out by our 999 call handlers. Filmed in Bedford, it gives viewers a behind the scenes look at what it’s really like to answer calls in an emergency situation.
We sometimes struggle to recruit to these roles, and we think it’s because often the applicants don’t fully understand what the job involves. It is not an easy role, but it is an incredibly rewarding one and if you haven’t watched the film yet I recommend you do so. You can find it here.
We also completed the latest milestone in our upgrade and refurbishment of Chelmsford EOC on the 19th October involving a total power shutdown on the day for electrical upgrades, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was involved in this work and for making it go so smoothly.
Standard loading for all
On 14th November we will move to a standard loading list across all EEAST A&E ambulances.
We’re introducing this in response to learning from patient safety and serious incident outcomes as well as recommendations from the CQC around standardising our approach.
The Make Ready teams will lead on the changes, and we will aim to have all vehicles moved across by 27th November.
During the transition the vehicles will be identified as either ‘new list’ or ‘old list’ and it’s important that all operational staff are familiar with the layout of their vehicle at the beginning of the shift.
You can read more about the changes here and in the meantime, the Make Ready teams and Local Managers can answer any questions about the implementation.
Improving the patient journey
As part of our Fit for the Future programme we have been working with our staff, patients and partners to develop a clinical strategy for Urgent and Emergency Care and before we develop it any further we would like to know what you think.
The strategy aims to deliver a clinical model that will improve the patient journey by aligning us more closely with 111 and local care providers.
Some aspects of the plan are already underway, such as access to the stack and the advanced practitioner project but there is much more still to do.
You can find details here including a link to the survey.
Have you had your jab?
Our flu clinics have been busy over the past few weeks and over 2,000 of our staff and volunteers have now been vaccinated. This equates to 33% of our people and is a great result!
As a reminder, you can find all the dates and locations on Need to Know and there are plenty of opportunities to book an appointment. I’ve had my vaccine and I would urge you to get your if you have not yet done so, it was quick, painless, and really does offer the best protection for you and your loved ones this winter.
Thanks for your thoughts
The National Staff Survey has been live for three weeks now and thank you to everyone who’s taken the time to complete the survey, I’m pleased to report that just over 40% of you have responded and we are again top of the league for all ambulance trusts. We have seen big increases in the commercial team, PTS and among colleagues in Norfolk & Waveney – so thank you.
If you’ve not yet had time to respond then you have until 25th November to do so, and we have enough Costa vouchers for everyone, so you won’t miss out.
I won’t say why the survey is so important, as I’m sure you’re all a little bored of me repeating it! But if you could take a few minutes to complete it that’d be great.
Thank You Thursday
This week’s Thank You Thursday come from PTS colleagues in Peterborough who go the extra mile to look after patients in a friendly and caring way.
This weekend will undoubtedly be busy in the run up to Halloween, so please take care and look after yourselves.
Thank you,
Tom
Published 27th October 2022