Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 19 April 2024 at 16:45
I would like to express my sadness upon hearing of the passing of Harlow paramedic Kelly Hussick. I have spoken to Kelly’s family and passed on our condolences from everyone at the Trust. I would also like to thank all involved, including the managers for the support they have provided to those affected.
We continue to see a very busy period in terms of demand. This is not just seen by us, but by Trusts across the country. Local managers are continuing to feedback our experience of 111 referrals to their local 111 providers, so if you have any questions or views, please contact your local management team.
Last year, we shared with you our current financial position and the fiscal challenges facing the NHS as a whole. Undoubtedly you will have seen recent news coverage. With the need to backfill our students, who are continuing their courses away from the service, the high levels of demand and hours lost to handover delays – our financial position is challenging. Last year our regulator NHS Improvement (NHSI) developed a financial improvement programme (FIP) aimed at bringing NHS organisations back in line with the public resources available to fund them. Along with our colleagues, East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS), we joined the programme on 16th December. Our executive team recently met with the NHSI FIP team to review their initial findings on how we can address the challenge of reducing the financial gap between the cost of delivering services to our patients and the funding available.
The executive team will be working closely with the NHSI FIP team over the coming months. Further information on how the programme is going, the areas it will be looking at and how it will be rolled out will be shared with you as soon as possible through your line management structure.
Given the financial challenge, current contract negotiations with commissioners indicate that the Trust will receive less funding in 2017/18 than we are spending on service delivery in 2016/17, despite the significant increases in activity and handover delays. Again, it’s not just us; all ambulance trusts are reporting similar challenges, but we are working hard with all parties to ensure we are in the best possible position so we can maintain a safe and quality service to patients.
In other news across the Trust, I am pleased to see that the first meeting of the proposed Volunteer Advisory Forum (VAF) took place last week. The new committee will allow volunteers to discuss issues, new ideas and creative ways of taking volunteering forward. You can read more on VAF’s first meeting on this week’s Need to Know.
The senior leadership board met this week and reviewed progress on our approach against violence and aggression. It’s truly welcoming to learn that according to figures published by NHS Protect, EEAST has the second highest level of success in securing sanctions against offenders. This is down to our staff that come forward to speak out and to our health, safety and security team – thanks to you all. The growth in reporting is a clear indication of an open and improving culture.
The Trust User Group will be presenting their intentions to reorganise themselves to fit into our six sectors across the East of England. They will be announcing this at our Trust Board meeting in January.
The Trust is, as always committed to the wellbeing of all staff. But I do understand that some of you may wish at times, to work in excess of the statutory 48-hours working week limit. If you do wish to, you need to sign an opt out form. Don’t forget to send your forms and mark it for the attention of Amy Trussell They can also be returned via internal mail or scanned and emailed to amy.trussell@eastamb.nhs.uk.
Our wellbeing team are hard at work and looking at ideas to improve staff health over the coming year. Health and Wellbeing manager Debra Winterson and team are currently working on the wellbeing of EOC staff. From February the professional update ‘train the trainer’ course will include a short wellbeing section, ensuring that all staff are made aware not only of the Trust’s wellbeing offering, but also of their own responsibility to take care of themselves. We are also aiming to pilot a scheme in one of the EOC’s, in which three teams will trial different wellbeing techniques (such as mindfulness, resilience and personal coaching as potential examples) so that we can work out what works best. This is in the preliminary stages of discussion so may change, and it is only the beginning of what we might offer.
The flu season is well and truly upon us, thank you to all those whom have taken the important step of getting the flu vaccine. You only have a couple of weeks left to get your flu jab. The wellbeing bus will be in operation next week, delivering last minute flu jabs. To get one, please email the wellbeing team at flu@eastamb.nhs.uk. Please remember to sign and return your flu jab form to the team, whether you choose to have the jab or not.
You may well be aware of the possibility of cold, ice and snow from this afternoon onwards for this week. Please take care of yourself and each other while out on the road. I have also recently been reminded of people who are alone during the winter periods. So, spare a thought for any lonely and vulnerable neighbours you may have during this wintry period.
Have a good week,
Robert
Published 12th January, 2017