Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 05 May 2024 at 18:40
This week's We Are EEAST Briefing and Executive Q&A was led by Chief Operating Officer Marcus Bailey.
Marcus was joined by Rob Ashford, Head of Operational Projects and Delivery, who talked about the End of Shift and Intelligent X-Ray trials.
Questions for Rob
Q1 - Hello just wanted to say that I have been impressed overall in the end of shift protocols, but I think that a fresh programme of advertising protocol this maybe worthwhile.
Q2 - Although welcomed, the late finish policy does not appear to be of any real benefit. Is there a chance to review the dispatch guidelines (ESOP25)? Is it appropriate to send one crew from Stevenage all the way to Peterborough just because a C2 has waited 5 seconds longer (especially when they are likely to pass 20 incidents locally)? Can we reinstate AOC borders where C2 or lower are an AOC-to-AOC discussion?
Q3 - How is the EOS trial being measured in terms of being a "success"? For instance, how many incidental hours were accrued in June 2021 due to attending a C1 call which took them over their EOS, compared to now?
Additional information:- To contact the team please email EOSTrial@eastamb.nhs.uk.
Q4 - Thank you for all the work that has been done for the end of shift trial. It has definitely been helpful. If echo codes could be published (or signposted if already, apologies I cannot find), it would be great for staff awareness and clarity. Thanks again.
Q5 - Could I ask please what the average late finish time is? Thank you.
Q6 - I welcome the trial. It’s great to be off on time, even my family are noticing that I am getting home on time a lot more, something they are not used over the years, this is a good moral boast for staff and thank you. It makes for less tired staff and happy staff who can spend some down time in-between shifts, long may this continue.
Q7 - With the reduction of end of shift late finishes, can I ask why HOT2 calls are not added in to the stack instead of being left at the bottom until all C2s are cleared, meaning RRVs are on scene well past end of shift or just sitting on scene for hours.
Q8 - How many ECHO codes actually translate to immediate treatment/intervention by a crew or pre-alert to hospital? We attend many C1s/ECHO codes that are not always appropriate, and this then still results in a late finish.
Q9 - How do we get on this group please?
Q10 - Rob - when any new process is 'socialised' - could any comms include names and role of everyone who has contributed? There is a sense that everything is Unison led and not truly representative of the wider staff team. I think naming contributors will help explode this myth or provide more confidence in new processes.
Q11 - A C1 call is for a time critical, life-threatening event, requiring immediate intervention or resuscitation. It requires an average response time of seven minutes target with 90% of attendances within 15 minutes. Why are "Echo" codes used to determine crews dispatch? A C1 is a C1. Officer deployment does not mention echo. Why does EoS trial?
Questions for Marcus
Q1 - Has the Trust got any plans on trying to retain staff when there are so many private companies out there now offering more money for staff to do the same job, like Rapid Response £57,000 for a paramedic??
Q2 – a) Has the Trust got a plan to downgrade from REAP4 at any point soon? Surely the present demand needs to be accepted as the new ‘Business as usual’ and we need to be commissioned as such.
b) Are you concerned about the effects of being at REAP4 for such an extended period of time is having on training/meetings/staff welfare and other functions of the Trust that are suspended by these sanctions?
Q3 - Hi Marcus, what is the latest on voluntary Staff Responders please?
Q4 - Can I ask why is it if you are on a rota line say as a Tech then go away do a paramedic course to help progress and to give better care to the patient, why do you have to come off a rota line and go back on relief which in turn messes up with that persons family and work balance life, this feels like a system that needs to be looked at as this feels like an unfair system…
Q5 - Is it correct that the recently updated relief policy is under further scrutiny again as it is potentially not fit for purpose/too restrictive? Should relief be simplified e.g. Can be allocated any shifts, but every third weekend off and no 'quick turnarounds'? It has become a nightmare for planners to stay in the confines of the policy and can create a detriment for patient facing hours when having to consider fixed rest days.
Q6 - There seems to be discussions about LOMs having various tasks removed from them - is the LOM role being changed or is there a restructure again?
Q7 - Marcus, there is a rumour that you have made the decision that we will not be looking into Ford ambulances, but have signed off Fiats for the next three years as a van conversion?
Q8 - An ongoing issue is the long distance that crews are travelling, in many cases, over 30 Miles. Travelling this distance certainly on nights is absolutely ridiculous and is dangerous. Are the Trust looking into this?
Q9 - Can I also ask, do we believe spending all that money on brand new VW transporter vans for the EIV vehicles when the RRVs we already have will do, why do they need a van with a table in the back?? I feel that money could have been spent in a better way like staff welfare.
Q10 - Staff Responders - isn't the simple answer for any interested staff member to join/be affiliated to their local CFR group and respond under normal road conditions?
Q11 - I have seen lots of these Q&As and it is nice to start to see comments and questions becoming more positive! Please keep doing what you are doing to engage with staff.
Q12 - You say about the T&C's with the private companies and sick pay, but doesn't the new section 2 contract punish you for being off sick by losing the unsociable payments??
Q13 - Just want to say well done to North Beds and West Norfolk ops who are level pegging with the most GREATix submissions! (Yes, there is an element of bias in this comment). Well done to all who have received a GREATix so far!
Q14 - Please may I ask, when registering as a para signing a new HR2, why are we required to change onto section2? Impacting 25% unsocial. Are we able to keep the terms of our contract?
Q15 - Do we have any tech wizards that are able to design a Trust wide huddle app available to all staff to log into, this will allow out of area crews to access up to date information for areas they find themselves in i.e., Waveney-Central and vice versa.
Published 14th February 2022