Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 19 April 2024 at 16:52
I want to start this week’s message with the announcement that Dr Tom Davis, our Deputy Chief Executive and Medical Director will be taking an extended leave of absence from the Trust starting at the end of October for up to 6 months.
Following careful consideration and discussion, Dr Tom has decided that taking this time off will allow him to focus on his personal resilience and supporting his family.
Looking after ourselves is the most important thing we can do, and this is an important reminder for us all to continue to do this, taking up the variety of options around changing our working arrangements to help support our health and wellbeing.
During Dr Tom’s absence I have asked Tom Burton, our Interim Director of Strategic Planning to take on the Training and Education, Operations Support and Digital Portfolio that Dr Tom held and we will shortly be advertising for a secondment for a medical director for the period of Dr Tom’s absence. I will be taking on responsibility as the Trusts’ Freedom to Speak Up executive sponsor.
Staff awards and long service
Celebrating staff achievements and long service is a subject that is very close to my heart and those of my exec colleagues. So, I am pleased to be able to tell you that plans are in place to recognise those colleagues who go above and beyond for patients and staff, as well as those people who are now due to have their long service recognised.
These celebrations have been delayed due to COVID, but we are currently planning an online staff awards ceremony, to be held on 25th November, along with a series of regional events for the presentation of long service awards in spring 2022. Nominations will open on Need to Know on Friday 1 October.
COVID boosters and flu vaccinations
Autumn will also see the start of our Covid 19 booster and flu clinics. These clinics will be open to all our people and will run until 30th November and help protect ourselves, our families and our patients.
We are waiting for final confirmation from NHS England on when we will be receiving vaccine so we can commence our clinics so please keep an eye on Need to Know for further information on when we are launching these.
If you are a front-line healthcare worker, patient facing staff or community first responder, or fall within a priority group as defined by the JCVI you can book a COVID booster now via the NHS National Booking Service (NBS) if this works better for you than attending one of our internal clinics. If you receive your COVID booster through one of these services you will still be able to get your flu vaccine through our own clinics.
You can find out more about both vaccinations, as well as find answers to some frequently asked questions here.
Non emergency transport services in south Essex
Last week, we were sad to announce that EEAST’s contract to provide non-emergency patient transport services in south Essex will end on 31st March 2022. We appreciate that this is an unsettling time for our colleagues who are impacted by this, but please rest assured that we are doing everything we can to ensure they receive any support which they may need.
National NHS staff survey
Lastly, I would like to mention the national NHS staff survey which launches on Monday 4th October. Sharing your views through the survey is so important. Working for EEAST, means you are best placed to tell us whether the changes we’re making really are making the Trust a better place to work.
The survey has been modernised to make it more accessible and inclusive and is now aligned to the NHS People Promise, which is all about making the NHS the best place to work. The survey is also now supplemented with a national quarterly pulse survey. I know that many of us may be starting to feel a little survey fatigued, please take the time to have your say, share your experience and influence how we go forward in future.
Thank you for all your hard work and stay safe.
Tom Abell
Chief Executive
Published 30th September 2021