Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 04 May 2024 at 05:21
This week's We Are EEAST Briefing and Executive Q&A was led by Marcus Bailey, Chief Operating Officer.
Q1 - I am a senior tech at the top of band five looking to qualify in May this year. When I qualify I will be forced on to section 2 which in real terms over the year is a pay cut. I will also have to pay for my registration. And I have no pay increment to move in too for two years with more responsibility. I have no incentive at all to qualify which is a shame when the Trust have paid so much for the course. What can be done?
Q2 - Is the cost of sometimes three people working as DTC in TOC, with some SDLs on overtime value for money? Especially when all the DTC role seems to be is to ask SDLs to call hospitals...would commissioners be satisfied with this expenditure?
Q3 - New Christmas annual leave policy.....ready yet for publication?
Additional information - A further response to the Christmas annual leave question. A Task and Finish group has been put together which includes representatives from Ops, Unison and HR, to ensure that we adopt the fairest method for booking Christmas annual leave going forward. The Annual leave Policy will then be updated to reflect the method we will be adopting at the end of January.
Q4 - Any load list for the LOM vehicles (still waiting)?
Q5 - Are we stopping the line with the horrendous not fit for purpose cannulas...or is the Trust happy to continue using patients as pin cushions?
Q6 - Has anyone questioned the Unison branch members about their inflated expenditure and hours they actually work...not an EEAST issue? I suggest it is - one of integrity and should be explored.
Q7 - I am finding it increasingly difficult to obtain LFTs are there any plans for the service to supply them again?
Q8 - Considering Unison are making deals with the exec, is it now time to look at a facilities agreement with another union?
Q9 - How are staff finding the new coffee - this has been keeping me up at night?
Q10 - I’ve recently qualified as an NQP. Got told in 2018 I’d keep annex 5. Been told since this that the Trust are yet to make a decision on whether we are keeping annex 5 or being forced to section 2. HR and T&C’s say it is waiting for the exec board to make a decision - how long will this take? Three years seems to be a bit long…
Q11 - In my area staff are leaving Unison as it appears EEAST is in their pockets. Can you ask for a senior member of Unison join one of these to answer questions directly from us.
Q12 - Culture won’t change until Unison have a re shuffle.
Q13 - Sorry if this was asked before. There are many experienced hard-working staff across the Trust who are physically unable to work on Fiat ambulances. Is there any plan to increase the number of Mercedes ambulances on the road to allow these staff to remain on the road safely? Or change Fiats to different ambulances?
Q14 - We have a number of Unison staff on full time abstractions, but we are not really seeing any output. Surely during this heightened pressure, they should be returning back to their roles? OPS, AOC, Fleet ect.
Q15 - Hi Marcus, is there an update regarding introducing staff responders? I note our C1 performance is still sitting significantly above the national target and many colleagues are keen to further support the organisation and help provision patient care in their local communities. It’s been several months since this was raised and regrettably, there does not appear to have been any meaningful progress.
Q16 - Is there plans for more CPD opportunities planned in the future, they looked really good, and I’d really like to attend some, but I couldn’t do any because of my shifts and they are all full now.
Q17 - Can on the road staff get a jumper (similar to what AOC staff get). It’s either be cold with a T-shirt/shirt or be roasting with a jacket, nothing in between. I don’t get how they aren’t “IPC Compliant” when they are washable, and aprons are compulsory as level 2 PPE anyway.
Q18 - Can I please ask for your thoughts on our call handling colleagues still being paid Band 3, these are the most under pressure members of the team and at Band 3 we are always going to struggle to retain staff.
Q19 - A while ago there was talks about bringing in therapy animals. Where are we with this?
Q20 - Will the Trust look at bringing back the welfare passports?
Q21 - I would like colleagues to consider all comments to be respectful please so this forum can be utilised appropriately, its putting people off and they are not dialling in because of the constant negativity.
Q22 - Hello Marcus, has the grievance from those on manager overtime contracts in ops not receiving the overtime annual leave backpay been concluded? I worked an additional shift over 2020/2021 almost every weekend to support the front line and was not entitled to receive the payment because I am considered bank. Thank you, Graham.
Q23 - With staff leaving are questions being asked as to why they're leaving? and what are we doing to stop it?
Q24 - We have been informed by Unison staff that we are getting payment for annual leave back pay in Jan. And was told call handlers are getting a retention pay which was due in December pay..
Q25 - Who investigates complaints about management? and are they subject to the same policies and directives as non-management staff?
Q26 - Has the service considered how we will convey bariatric patients once our Merc fleet has been fully retired? Thank you.
Q27 - The Disability Support Network is currently doing work to bring in Welfare Dogs, we are looking to start this very soon.
Q28 - We were promised annual leave back payment in January’s pay is this still the case?
Q29 - On the note of vehicles and the tragic events in Kent recently, has our fiat box conversion been crashed tested in its converted state? I note the Fiat chassis has a relatively poor Euro NCAP safety rating in comparison to the Mercedes’ and VW/Ford alternatives. Given the extent of the damage to a SECAMB Mercedes’ box conversation recently, the disparity in safety standards is a serious concern. Where can we find the documentation for our ambulance safety tests etc please?
Q30 - Working at home is not working well in all areas of the trust. At what point do we say enough is enough and bring staff back into work?
Q31 - Although they are lovely individuals, can you explain why an admin support band 4 and project manager band 7 have been recruited into Beds and Luton? It has caused sour grapes for band 3 admin and others.
Q32 - Why do we need BAME ambassadors, surely if we are changing the Trust culture to an open and inclusive one where everyone is treated the same and can openly challenge what is wrong. Why then advertise that different ethnic backgrounds need different support to ensure they are treated correctly? This surely highlights a failure within the Trust management system to change. It could in some cases lead to unconscious bias, so will we need ambassadors to support those who are not from the BAME community.
Q33 - It was previously discussed that 'make ready' was under review. Any report ready to be published?
The Executive Q&A sessions are held once a week, and are led by a member of the Exec team. You can find out details of the next briefing here.
Published 17th January 2021