Thursday 27th May - Leadership message from Dr Tom Davis, Interim CEO

Dr Tom Davis

I want to start with a thank you to everyone who has taken the time to complete the latest Pulse survey. It is really important to tell us how you feel about working at EEAST - good and bad - so we can continue to improve our culture. The Pulse survey ends on 31 May and you can click here to take part.

With COVID restrictions easing, some international travel is now allowed, governed by the new traffic light system. As you will know, pandemic rules can change at short notice so no travel is risk free. We have some updated overseas travel guidance here and please do discuss any overseas holiday plans with your line manager.

Since the latest easing of restrictions, we have seen a significant increase in calls and demand management plans are being implemented. These have been shaped by our experiences over the last year and, thanks to the hard work of everyone at EEAST, we are continuing to provide a safe service for our communities.

During times of high demand, we particularly rely on our volunteers to add valuable extra capacity. I am pleased that we will be celebrating their contribution during National Volunteers' Week next week.

Finally, I want to update you on our meeting with local Members of Parliament which I mentioned in last week’s message. We discussed our latest people, performance and progress updates and there were, as there should be, some challenging questions. Given the concerns highlighted by the Care Quality Commission last September, I felt this was a positive meeting overall and the MPs recognised the dedication of staff at EEAST and the service we provide to their constituents.

Thank you and stay safe

Dr Tom Davis
Interim CEO

Published 27th May 2021