Update from Anthony Marsh - 9th July 2015

As we go into the second quarter of the financial year, I would like to update you on our progress with some of the priorities I set for 2015/16:

• recruit and train 400 student paramedics – you can read a full recruitment update published on Need to Know last week but we have recruited 244 student paramedics since the beginning of the financial year, and by the end of July, 86 of these will be working on the frontline. We are well on our way to our target of 400, but the the advert is still open so there is still time to share with friends and family and encourage them to apply especially if they live in Hertfordshire, Essex or Suffolk, or consider it yourself.  
• continue fleet replacement programme to maintain all frontline vehicles less than five years old – the Board has approved the replacement of 56 emergency ambulances as they reach five years of age, so we are expecting delivery of 20 new ambulances in January with a further 36 arriving in June 2016. The Board also approved the replacement of 23 rapid response cars, this time with an SUV-type vehicle. The order has been placed for the base vehicles and will be delivered in March. The vehicle working group has reviewed the RRV specification in advance of this order. 
• implement an Organisational Development (OD) programme – the team are working on an action plan following the results of the 2014 staff survey and have updated appraisal paperwork, which is available on East24, to bring the Trust in line with national NHS practice. A full update on OD will be published on Need to Know soon. In addition, we have established a new set of vision and values – developed by staff and volunteers. 
• secure CAD system – a paper is going to the Board this month for a decision, so we are still on schedule for the planned introduction of a system later in the year. 

I am pleased to report our progress and as I have said before, it is necessary for everyone to focus on these priorities, regardless of your role. Please continue to make them your priority and we will make EEAST the organisation we want it to be.

I would also like to thank you all for your hard work during the hot weather last week. It made for particularly difficult conditions and coupled with extremely high call volumes, the demand on the service was great. I very much appreciate your efforts and continued dedication to patient care.

Published 9th July 2015