We Are EEAST Briefing - Thursday 13th July 2023

10:49 - 12:03

Good afternoon. There is still currently a lack of cars for the Urgent Care Specialist Paramedic Teams, and in some areas this is impacting our ability to deliver supervision and mentorship for trainees. Do you have a definitive date when the cars will be delivered, please, and being selfish, when will the Norwich Team have their car? Thank you. 

Answer: The VW T6s with special operations will be released when the new Fords are delivered to them, this is anticipated the 1st week of August. That will release 6 EIV type vehicles into operations. 

12:07 - 12:58

I work down in Essex as a NQP, we've got a mental health care in Mid, only S-EMT and paramedics can crew it, and not NQP, why cannot a NQP do this once out of 6 months, as I can solo respond, and newly made senior techs following the change of SOP cannot discharge on scene without running it past CAL/a HCP.

13:02 - 14:05

Whilst it is understood that band 5 EMT was introduced for recruitment and retention, can I urge you to reinstate this as the fall out amongst staff, especially those who have just qualified is huge.  Some staff for many reasons do not want to progress to paramedic.  Can we please look after our people a bit better.

14:10 - 15:24

If time to lead is about giving LOMs more time to support staff, why the need for a restructure - why not just simply increase LOM teams where they are needed?  Simple?

15:36 - 16:12

We have lots of new members of staff that can only work as a third person on an ambulance due to the fact they do not have C1 licence yet. Students are reluctant to gain C1 licence whilst studying because they do not get reimbursed unless they have a job offer.

Would it be possible for new staff to get reimbursed For cost of C1 if they have completed it in the 12 months prior to employment and are contracted to repay it if they leave within for example 2 years

16:19 - 18:01

TTL is still a problem, many staff, for example those on secondments, have been informed that the initial events are for those on substantive contracts only. There are many question, especially for staff who have been on recurrent secondments who are now believing that they will have to competitively recruit again and will have to restart LOM training from the very beginning again???

18:06 - 20:21

Hello, once again.. I have asked on numerous times about the end of shift protection trial, the last hour only responding to Echo codes. Especially for those stations with increased travel away from the Hospital, but although through other sources I have heard that there was no detrimental effect on Pt outcome no official data has been forthcoming, and or any explanation why this cannot be implemented a BAU.

20:25 - 21:25

Our area recently loaned the Trust Dress uniform for a funeral and found the uniforms to be poor sizes, mixed colours. We are unfortunately planning ahead for a future circumstances and wondered if the Trust would look to update the current stock or offer their issue to all levels of management to allow us to present ourselves in such events in the same manner and standard as our other uniformed services.

21:29 - 21:59

Is there an update on the medal issues from the coronation.

Answer: Hi, the confirmed coronation eligibility has only recently been circulated by DHSC, and the team are subsequently working with the respective teams to collate the names of all those eligible. We are still ahead of the curve as we are still awaiting the order form from the DHSC.(Is there an update on the medal issues from the coronation.)

22:03 - 23:24

Hello, TTL - At a recent engagement event, Hein said that secondments will cease at the point of 'slotting in'. Of course we recognise this, but it is really disheartening when there are several AGM/GM/HOOs in secondments. We continue to deliver for Ops knowing we are going to be excluded from TTL and will return to our substantive role, but what is the point continuing these secondments, taking our teams through a really difficult time to be dumped in 2 months time... 

23:24 - 23:35

How can I arrange to take a CFR out on a ride out?

23:38 - 25:18

A desperate plea. Please please stop the practice of of dispatch of C2 especially on nights, fully understand C1…hot 1 etc. responding to 3 hour old c2..sorry got cut off, but a 3hr c2, is this in the best interests and safety of night crew’s especially as we are driving excess distances to these jobs on night and all breaks are essential.

25:21 - 25:47

Does the announcement today from the government about pay rises across the public sector mean we will be getting a further 1% on top of the rise we had last month?

25:47 - 27:08

TTL and secondments - surely if we have people who are in secondments in Ops who are delivering, meeting and exceeding expectations, why is it not possible, if roles are vacant they still will need to go through a whole central recruitment process? We are doing the job well - sometimes with 3 or 4 extensions because we have done such good work with culture, service development etc. 

27:09 - 27:42

Would EEAST consider any help towards nursery costs - may mean more time to work and more stability to parents of young children, especially with costs rising, and many of EEAST staff working shift hrs

27:56 - 29:15

Could it be looked into that you can refer yourself to OH rather than a manager referring you. There is quite a toxic culture in the LOM office where as soon as you leave the office you get spoken about behind your back in a negative way

29:22 - 30:25

On behalf of Unison and many disgruntled EMTs, could sEMT please still be considered for those who incurred significant apprenticeship delays beyond their control? Many have been bumped out of the eligibility window, by lengthy Trust delays. We run the risk of a mass exodus of valuable staff. Thanks 

30:34 - 30:49

We are progressing the Ceremonial Uniform issue. We are looking have a new stock of uniforms of different sizes. We need to have a process in place on  how these will be booked out and the uniforms being cleaned on return. The time line is TBC but we are making progress and should be in a position to have  a paper to Exec team by the end of summer.

30:49 - 32:48

Last weekend a very close family member suffered a stroke and had to wait well over one hour for an ambulance to arrive.  We are not in winter pressures, our income has nearly doubled from £200m to £400m in recent years, we cannot blame hospital handover delays as our private providers consistently hand over to clear quicker than our own staff.

There are many great initiatives within EEAST that focus on how we treat each other but we seem to be at risk of losing sight that our main priority should be to serve the patient in their time of need.

Can I please ask why we are not meeting our response times?

32:53 - 34:07

Tom - are you completely satisfied with how the engagement with band 3 administrators has been handled?  Most have been planning for years, yet a solely planning role is now band 4 - I am pretty disgusted how my admin colleagues have been made to feel with no recognition of how they have been doing over and above their job description for years at band 3.

34:07 - 35:22

Once again, this morning in one hub alone, we have 14 vehicles VOR and were minus 3 ambulances for our staff.

When will fleet and make ready work make progress to reduce us travelling an hour plus to get a DSA for a crew? 

35:22 - 36:18

There was a specific instruction that the consultation events were not for those on secondment and some of us have emailed the TTL team and not had a response. At present, after several years in B7 roles, Self-financing ILM courses to be compliant with the role, and producing excellent delivery results in all areas, I will revert to my substantive paramedic role - wouldn't you feel that was a complete waste of talent for the Trust?

36:18 - 37:25

Why aren't body worn cameras at all stations? I recently got punched by a patient, the LOM arrived, and his first words were 'where is your camera'- I work out of an outline station, and how is that attitude okay, a camera wouldn't have stopped the assault. I get its good evidence for police, but why just have it at the main hub if you want everyone to wear it

37:25 - 38:24

Why are we stopping the welfare vans and replacing them with a camper van and not providing thr refreshments as readily as we do now?  We still see hospital delays.

38:27 - 39:22

A position for Advanced Practice in Urgent Care was recently uploaded. Enquiries showed that this is ONLY open to those who have a BSc or studied at L6. T*E state that there will be a program for L5 'in the future' but currently this is another kick for the bulk of Senior Paramedics, who have been offered no funded upgrades and yet have mentored our University BSc entrants and will now, effectively be leapfrogged by them!

39:22 - 40:07

What is an acceptable timeframe for a formal grievance to be resolved?

40:11 - 41:27

What are the plans going forward with regards to replacement of fleet as it appears the current vehicle are neither robust best fit for purpose.

41:30 - 42:43

Can we please review HCP and how they are handled. For example a HCP C1 was downgraded to a C2, which I blue-lighted too on a night shift this week. The only information on the CAD was ‘required immediate dispatch’. This was in fact to a patient with ongoing back pain, who needed a transfer for an assessment the next day. This was not time critical in any aspect. Can we please ensure we are risk assessing the coding, because I highly doubt that reasoning for blue lighting per the coding would stand in court. Please and thank you

Further answer: In these situations we are reliant on a HCP providing us the appropriate information and that is what we base the coding / response on.

42:46 - 43:15

Hi Tom, just to update yourself and Colleagues on the call the HWE Unscheduled Care Hub passed over 514 calls in June and July we  have passed over 250 call thus far this month.

43:18 - 44:01

Hi Tom, I am not sure if it's just me, but the GREATIX work has gone quiet, it also isn't always suitable, however I still want to recognise staff. (and do locally).  Can the Trust look in to better ways to recognise people? Template 'thank you cards' Certificates from directors, letters from Execs etc. 

44:09 - 44:58

More a comment rather than a question, but is it possible to please include the ‘basic’ - every day patient facing staff in consultations and current projects. I think the best people to answer a lot of questions or suggest a new approach where we are struggling (e.g overnight) are most likely going to be those individuals completing the job. Just a polite request :) 

45:00 - 45:25

Please can i ask where the coronation medals are.  The Police and armed forces have received them... are they coming to us soon? Thanks.

45:31 - 45:51

Can you please tell me what the response time is following emailing the TTL inbox.  Email was sent on Tuesday when can I expect a reply.

45:54 - 46:56

Is there any focus with PTS improvement re. many cancelled journeys (over 2,500 last month just in cambs) and the unachievable contract to deliver many more pt journeys... This is not good for the safety of the organisation.

46:57 - 47:52

Hi tom, i hope you are well. Can you confirm when the consultation period was for semt agreement was as i did email in for further information and the only response i got was it is being looked into then i later found out via NTK that i am now out of the window caused by delays that were out of my control. I do not feel valued or listened to as a employee. If anything i feel like this is unfair as do many.... there are a lot of individuals considering other employment.

47:56 - 48:24

We need more PTS personnel - so many vehicles not being able to be used. Can more focus be on PTS recruitment?

48:29 - 49:32

How can you make the EPCR mandatory when it freezes every 5 seconds, making a 10 minute job to do paperwork at 20 minute one, the system is frustrating and never gets signal if you go anywhere vaguely remote 

49:35 - 50:10

Hello Tom, sorry another TTL question, under the current frontline ops structure why are the Business Supports not showing as there are currently 6 in post, one for each sector -  but on the new proposed structure they show as new roles, is this an error

50:13 - 51:35

Our local acute frequently ask EEAST to help with discharges when the private PTS provider fails to meet the quota. We always say yes as this usually assists with ED moves but what area we doing to challenge these providers who are not complying with their contract, especially when we lost this PTS contract to them.

51:38 - 52:28

When you submit a greatix, it says about if its hit criteria it will be sent out; can an update be sent to you if you dont do it anonymously so that you know one has been sent?

52:33 - 52:47

A big thank you to everyone doing their job at EEAST, especially with care at the core.