We Are EEAST Briefing - Thursday 27th July 2023

11:27 - 12:50

 Can I ask for an update on how the recruitment team is doing? I’ve been with the trust for three years now, and I've finally worked my way through all the red tape and politics to get some much wanted progression. Following an efficient interview I've come to a dead end. People are getting a four line email saying that they’ve passed their interview but that's it, nothing else. Trac hasn’t been updated, no ones answering the phones, what is going on in the world of recruitment? Do they need more support for overwhelming numbers of staff who have once again shown the trust that they want to progress their careers?

12:52 - 16:13

 We are aware we have to take some new recruits to meet out C2 performance which is understood...many new staff will be ECAs.  Can you explain who we can accommodate these individuals in a locality which is over staffed and will there be an uplift in vehicles?  Furthermore, ECAs will require shifts with tech/para colleagues - how do you propose we manage this with also supporting uni students as well???  Thanks so much.

16:18 - 19:17

EMAS has band 5 techs, i know this, i’ve spoken to one, they are real living breathing human beings. SWAST has them as well! Again! I’ve spotted one in the wild! Both are pushing new band 5s through the system with no site of stopping. Why have we stopped giving Band 5 to techs?

19:21 - 21:12

 Can you kindly explain why Cambs and Peterborough staff are now getting cost of living payments yet staff in other localities who also have cost of living pressures are not entitled.  Seems grossly unfair and has not landed well.

21:13 - 24:01

 Afternoon all, here's the ability bi-weekly question about fleet! Some of our buses are hitting five years old now, battered and bruised, and hitting 120,000 miles. They aren't fit for purpose in the first place and now they pose a danger to patient safety with their reliability. #Bring Back The Mercs.

24:01 - 24:37

 Can we get a Q&E with our medical director again? I feel that our trust is falling behind when it comes to scopes of practice, drugs, medical technology etc. St John has PMAs and PGDs written up for their first raiders to give drugs, there ECAs can give salbutamol, Even Penthrox, yet we’re taking on more and more staff who can’t give safe GSL medications.

24:39 - 25:57

 You previously, kindly directed me to the advert for the Norfolk apprenticeship EMT role for my friend’s son, he applied at the beginning of June and has just received a response saying that due to unforeseen circumstances in the Trusts requirements they no longer have vacancies for the position of AEMT based in Norfolk and Suffolk.  Does this mean he just didn't get a place or has this role been pulled?

25:57 - 27:03

 You have previously confirmed staff can refuse to work with non-clinical drivers, as this was not part of our contracts when we joined the service and were originally only brought in for covid pressures. As these pressures have now passed, yet we are still employing NCDs, please can this be re-confirmed in writing? Many staff I know find the thought of working with a NCD highly stressful. Confirmation that they can refuse would help support staff and ensure they feel their welfare is being considered, at the same time as making the NCD situation clear for staff and those planning shifts.

27:05 - 29:33

 Hi, now that the senior EMT window has closed, what changes will the trust implement for band 4 EMT’s. In my opinion it’s unfair that band 4’s should be crewed with apprentices, unqualified staff and students if our band 5 equivalents are the ones being paid to mentor etcetera. In the original agreement, staff had to undertake further training and mentor programs to qualify for the higher band- what percentage of senior EMT’s and paramedics actually undertook this further training to receiver higher pay? How many mentors actually have a qualification in mentoring. This is no slight on senior EMT’s but if the individual doesn’t have the qualifications as per the original agreement what are they receiving payment for? Realistically, senior roles have been around for some nine years now, redundancy from the role hasn’t happened, therefore there is a degree of employment discrimination by not allowing others to apply for it. Especially when qualification requirements of the original agreement have not been met in the first place. You’ve mentioned inclusion and being fair in todays message, I’m sure many will read this and agree that the termination of the application for senior roles is against this ethos. The answer of “apply for your paras to get band 5” is quite frankly a failure in development of an huge proportion of your staff. 

29:35 - 30:36

 Hi within time to lead will clinical supervision be part of the process or does this sit outside TTL structure?

30:37 - 31:48

 Do you know what the new Team Leader role proposed on TTL will look like? What will the difference be between them and the current LOM role to explain the banding difference? 

31:54 - 32:32

 When we will hear about progress with a SOCM for Norwich EOC, we've had a number of interim posts and currently have no-one in post. The recent advert was for Interim again, when will have someone substantive in post?

32:33 - 34:05

 The Trust had previously pledged to decrease the number of secondments, but despite that commitment, several roles are still being advertised as secondments, including one within your office. Could you please explain the reasons behind this decision and why these positions cannot be offered as substantive posts instead?

34:06 - 35:45

 Why do we not get updates regarding reap and surge levels anymore, impacting 15D? As frontline staff we frequently get sent out in our 15 for C2s and even sometimes C3s that have been in for a long time, having not been told we're at a level where we can be used for those. Why are we not being more transparent with that so frontline staff know what to expect?

35:45 - 37:38

 How can we even begin to put more resourcing out, when we don't have the fleet? Regularly, my area are minus 14 DSAs - double staffing cars or sitting in crew rooms. We need urgent fleet issues resolved. I have had DSAs out for routine servicing for over a week! We cannot continue to run an ambulance service without ambulances 

37:41 - 38:39

 Last week LAS tweeted even more new vehicles - mustangs, Man ambulances, ford ambulances. Why are we religiously sticking to a national spec that doesn't work for us when other trusts do what they want? 

38:42 - 39:13

 Is their an update with the issues in fleet? Ambulance availability is getting worse across the trust. At the start of our shifts we do not have a vehicle to go on and often waste 2-3 hours waiting for vehicles to come back. Fleet rarely respond and when they do, all you get is ' sorry we can not help'. Surely as a trust we can not allow this  to carry on. 

39:14 - 39:58

 Hi Tom, please can we ask what’s being done about the new unsafe PTS Ambulances. There was no input from anyone in PTS, well that what we are told by manager. The new vehicles can take less patients on the vehicles and they now can’t take electric wheelchairs. We are a laughing stock, even the privates have better vehicles than us.

39:59 - 41:09

 With the new TTL structure announced  with the timeline for role filling in September - Does this mean my secondment I have been doing for a year will end when someone is slotted in to the role? A role that is currently vacant and I have undertaken successfully for nearly a year? 

41:11 - 42:07

 Is the service now looking at becoming a paramedic lead service as many post that emt and senior emt could progress into are required to a registered professional. Those who are long term employees they are left with no where to go unless you are a paramedic. 

42:09 - 43:00

 When will the results of the HALO non clinical trial be released as new positions are being advertised as Paramedic only, or was it they they were employed as a stop gap 

43:02 - 44:34

 So staff who are loyal and don't leave don't get a fringe / cost of living patient???? Sorry to say, this angers me.  1 more para leaving as soon as I find something else I hate to say.  CQC inspectors will love that conversation.

44:37 - 45:18

 Belgian F1 race this weekend, who are you routing for? 

45:20 - 46:15

 How can medically trained EMTs be capped at the same band 4 as non-clinical staff and admin staff, yet everyday are clinically responsible for patients? There is now a huge disparity of pay for the same EMT role - surely a breach of employment law.  

46:17 - 46:52

Can I do a need to know posts on the new spec and more choices for converters etc? That sounds very interesting and music to much of our ears. A positive step made by EEAST, medals, tea and biscuits for all involved.

46:55 - 47:43

 When will the Trust cease the requirement for paramedic qualifications as a prerequisite for advancing into management roles? Even positions that do not involve direct patient interaction, such as GMs, Resilience Managers, and EOC Senior Managers, still demand a registered clinical qualification. This policy seems to overlook the needs of staff members who are not paramedics or those who do not aspire to become one. How can the organisation effectively support such individuals in their career growth?

47:44 - 48:10

 I appreciate you won't be able to comment on an individual case but following on from my colleagues comment about Norwich EOC, we now have another Interim Head of EOC and no communication when the substantive Head will return. Can some transparent and honest communication be considered please to staff, if anything this may halt the chinese whispers!  

48:10 - 49:33

 Disappointing that the new team leader role is band 6 only. Where’s the incentive for band 6 paras to take on more responsibility for no financial benefit ?

49:33 - 50:53

 Why have corporate support staff in Melbourn been neglected when it comes to cost of living adjustments, especially considering the challenges in recruiting for roles at the headquarters due to the high cost of living in the area? Additionally, with private companies offering better-paying positions in Cambridge, the issue becomes even more pressing. This oversight raises questions about why the concerns of these staff members have been disregarded, and how their feelings and well-being have been overlooked in the process.

50:55 - 51:15

 With no disrespect to colleagues in Cambs and Peterborough, but we are all suffering from the cost of living crisis. I would hope that all factors in the retention issue identified in that area are investigated, such as culture or management of staff, before agreeing to additional payments.

51:17 - 51:35

 The new team leader role is capped at band 6. Where’s the incentive for already band 6 paras to apply for these roles ?

51:36 - 53:41

 How do you think things are going at the moment Tom, there seems to be unrest across all directorates at the moment and a general feeling that there is no progress and the Trust is in a more challenged state than it has been. 

53:44 - 53:57

 Probably for 'that' question again... Is Marcus coming back? We heard April, then it was delayed... is he ever returning?

53:58 - 54:21

 When do we see the structure for EOC as part of TTL? 

54:23 - 55:01

 Can we get a Q&A with the head of estates? Historically, public services have always had old, 90s and 00 looking buildings (Except the fire service, they seem to have five star hotels as stations!) but now some of our stations are too small and unfit for purpose. Peterborough is massive… yet we’ve outgrown it, You can’t swing a cat let alone reverse a fiat in Huntingdon, and Kemptson? Well, you can’t tell if you're in the locker room or a vehicle garage. Maybe it's time to splash some of that cash and bring us up to modern standards.

55:03 - 55:56

 You say removing SEMT is in line with national national guidance, yet the NHS job profile for ambulance service has a role of “Ambulance Practitioner” at band 4 and a “Ambulance Practitioner Specialist” at band 5. If other trusts can use band 5, why can’t we. EMAS, SWASFT and LAS all pay their non NQ EMTs as band 5.