Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 05 May 2024 at 02:43
Managing operational pressure
I want to begin by talking about the enormous pressures we’re currently facing within the system. This is busier than I have ever seen it, with handovers at hospitals often over 60 minutes. Thank you once again for meeting this increasing demand and pressure through hospital handovers.
Unfortunately, this has meant making the very difficult decision to replan the one-day training for many of you. We have also made some changes to staffing within the AOC and we are continuing to look at other measures to take to improve patient and staff safety and wellbeing and will keep you posted. This involves discussions locally and nationally along with identifying we can accelerate senior clinical support and movement of patients to other services.
We have also been impacted by staff sickness, with COVID currently the biggest issue. I know we continue to say it, but the most important thing we can all do, for our patients, families and colleagues is to continue following the current COVID guidelines.
Our staff survey results
You may be aware that the results of the national staff survey for all NHS trusts (including EEAST) were published yesterday (Wednesday 30 March). Tom Abell wrote to us all and has outlined his thoughts on the results and how we make the necessary improvements in a short video. If you took part in the survey then thank you.
We know that dealing with some of these issues is a long-term piece of work. However, there are a number of areas where our scores are lower and I was sorry to see that fewer of you would recommend the Trust as a place to work and that more of you feel that relationships are under strain. We also scored low on people’s ability to access training. Given that we have had to put training on hold through busy periods, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise, but it will help us focus on how we tackle these pressures sustainably going forward.
I was pleased to see that fewer of you have experienced violence from members of the public, although one incident is still one too many and we are continuing to support the AACE #workwithoutfear campaign around this. Fewer of you also reported experiencing bullying from managers or feeling under pressure to come into work when you’re unwell. More people also feel comfortable reporting unsafe clinical practice, which tells me that we are developing a culture which is becoming more open and where we learn from mistakes.
We have much more to do. However, we have made progress in tackling outstanding employment relations cases, encouraging people to speak up, recruiting additional staff and investing in a new health and wellbeing team, and mental health support.
Our focus now, is on building on this progress, particularly in the key areas of reward and recognition and learning. During April, we will share the localised results with individual teams and managers to support the development of improvement plans.
Cyber security reminder
Last week, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) asked organisations to bolster their cyber security resilience in response to cyber security incidents that have happened in and around Ukraine. Cyber criminals are becoming more sophisticated and difficult to detect, so we all need to be careful when we are online, both at work and at home. We all play a crucial role in protecting the Trust from cyber-attacks of different kinds, including phishing and ransomware. More information is available on how you can protect yourself and the Trust.
VCOD update
We will shortly be writing to everyone who was affected by the proposed Vaccination as a Condition of Employment (VCOD) legislation.
As we highlighted last week, the Government revoked this legislation on 15th March. This means it is no longer a legal requirement and there will be no further action regarding employment in relation to COVID vaccination status.
I know that the concern around VCOD has been worrying for many people and I would like to thank those affected for their professionalism and support during this difficult period.
Celebrating you
It has been a long time since we have been able to get together and celebrate colleagues who have completed a period of long service with the Trust, whether that’s 20 or 40 years. Many of us have missed these celebrations, so I’m delighted to share with you that we hope to host our long service awards once again in June (either face to face or online).
Also in June, the government will be thanking NHS staff for their work during the pandemic and those with more than five years frontline service will receive a Jubilee medal. At EEAST, we want to say thank you to all our staff members and have arranged for everyone to receive a Jubilee coin. We will share more information on this and the long service awards once plans are confirmed.
Thank you and take care.
Marcus Bailey
Chief Operating Officer
31st March 2022