Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 20 April 2024 at 06:41
Monkeypox
Earlier this week we shared some information with you around Monkeypox and the recent rise in the number of cases in the UK. Monkeypox is a viral infection that is usually mild and self-limiting - it does not spread easily and the risk to the UK population remains low. However, it is important that all staff continue to wear standard PPE for patient contacts, and if you suspect a patient has any signs or symptoms of Monkeypox, you should wear level 3 PPE. If you have not already done so, please familiarise yourself with the guidance, which includes more detailed information from the UK Health Security Agency.
Volunteer’s Week
Wednesday 1st June marks the beginning of Volunteer’s Week. This provides a good opportunity for us all to take a minute and recognise just how fortunate we are to have such a strong team of dedicated volunteers right across our organisation. Whether you’re volunteering on the frontline delivering patient care and transport or working with colleagues internally to provide support, every one of you is an important part of the team here at EEAST. Thank you for giving up your time to work alongside us, it really is appreciated.
Long Service Awards
I am very much looking forward to celebrating our colleagues who have given many years of service to the Trust at our two Long Service Awards ceremonies which will take place at the end of June in Newmarket, Suffolk and Wyboston, Bedfordshire. A gentle reminder, if you received an invite and have not yet confirmed your attendance, then you will need to email the awards team by this Friday (27th May) to secure your place.
Learning from each other
Good managers make a huge difference to any team. Whether you’ve been a manager for days or years there is always something to learn, and I hope that our new ‘Learning Circle’ initiative will make this easier to do.
Managers who were involved in a recent project told us they found informal drop-in sessions a useful space to ask questions, share experiences and learn from each other. Our ‘Learning Circles,’ will follow that model providing a safe space for open conversation. They are a series of informal discussion groups, to be carried out remotely, covering a variety of topics that managers may have to deal with as leaders. If you are in any type of managerial role, you are very welcome to attend. Further details will be shared with you shortly via Need to Know.
Celebrating fantastic care
One of the things we are going to start to use our leadership messages for is to celebrate success, we get so many emails recognising the great care we provide day in, day out for our communities and I wanted to share a message I received on Tuesday from an colleague who Tom Abell worked with during his time in mid and south Essex:
“We needed to call 999 for mum a few weeks ago as she was having trouble breathing. She has asked me to feedback how superb the care was.
Two community responders arrived first, both were professional and friendly, knowledgeable and immediately put mum at ease. They called into the clinical desk and the request for an ambulance crew was upgraded, crew arrived literally minutes later (handy they were already out on the Dengie!) and were just simply awesome. There was nothing that could be improved. They worked efficiently and quickly but not in a way to make you feel like it was ‘panic stations’, respectfully, calmly, they listened to mum and again were professional and friendly but most of all exceptionally caring. A perfect balance of action and humanity. Mum said most importantly they made her feel safe.
We are all feeling very lucky now for the NHS as a whole. She is now back home and recovering well.”
Thank you for going the extra mile.
Marcus Bailey
Chief Operating Officer
26th May 2022