Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 05 May 2024 at 16:57
This week's We are EEAST Briefing and Executive Q&A was led by Chief Executive Tom Abell.
Tom was joined by Chief Information Officer Stephen Bromhall to update staff on EEAST's digital plans.
Questions for Stephen
Q1 - Hello Steven, last week I asked if a Trust wide huddle app could be developed, I wondered if this idea has been forwarded to your team?
Q2 - A question for Stephen re. iPad. Can GP access and past visits be allowed for all grades not just qualified staff? As the current jobs ECA unqualified go to are, at present, not just urgent calls, and we cannot access GP records. This access would be really helpful on jobs with history taking etc.
Q3 - Hi Stephen, could we please have copy and paste added back to the iPads? Losing this functionality adds lots of time to my typing if a colleague starts a PCR differently to myself.
Q4 - Another idea, could Siren pull data onto a single page in pre alert format from data already there.
Q5 - Hi Stephen, with the new upgrades for the Siren system, is there any scope for us to able import details from the GP connect or be able to split screen to view the GP notes as well as inputting our notes.
Q6 - Steven, could MDT data be pushed to the iPads assigned to the DSA? This would allow the driver to have continued mapping. Currently that goes if any updates to the job are forwarded on route and the attendant wishes to read this. Apologies if not clear in what Imean.
Q7 - Question for Stephen - IT Staff were told over a year ago that a restructure was on the way. Are there any updates on this please?
Q8 - Steve, are we planning to share our Siren EPCR app with our Private Ambulance Service providers?
Questions for Tom
Q1 - Thank you for the 'Extra Precaution' notice on NTK re Storm Eunice. For those of us who are office based and cannot work from home, please can you advise on whether we should risk travelling in tomorrow, in case the warning status should turn to red in our area, potentially affecting returning home safely? Thank you.
Q2 - Hello, have been thinking, a possible idea to increase the number of staff taking up overtime is a scheme whereby staff can submit a ?form and claim the overtime pay, for example, 48 hours after doing the shift. Especially around Xmas as people to do overtime for extra cash in December rather than waiting till next month’s pay, any incentives would be paid as normal.
Q3 - Please are we able to explain why female staff members are being asked to return for a driving assessment and a skills assessment after coming back from maternity leave? This procedure is in the sickness policy but not included in the maternity policy. To place ladies under these extra pressures when returning to the workplace, treating maternity leave the same as sickness, is causing distress to our female colleagues returning to frontline duties. Are you able to clarify the reasoning behind this?
Q4 - Can I ask why the 'Van' cannot be given to PTS to trial? We are already being asked about electric vehicles by hospitals.
Q5 - Who is the Head of Ops for Beds and Luton for next 6 months? Be good to know who will be caretaking for us - no announcement made to staff :(
Q6 - Tom - there appears to be a huge amount of confusion about the new Christmas annual leave booking process. Where is the new policy to view? Is there any confidence that people actually know what is happening? Would you accept that messages about the Xmas annual leave booking process was a bit premature?
Q7 - Hi Tom, what is the latest position on staff responders? I'm aware conversations are ongoing, and have been for several months now, but our demand remains significant and our C1 performance in particular continues to be challenged. Staff are still limited to the CFR scope and the existing deployment model, which is a real shame.
Q8 - Please can EV car charger points be looked at for staff cars too? I'm happy to pay for electric used if there's a way to subcontract the points out?
Q9 - Is it fair to have Glenn Young caretaking for Beds and Luton as HoO? No reflection on Glenn, but he already has a huge area.... surely EEAST, there must be someone else who can offer some more stability/visibility. Unsure how it will be viewed by CQC inspectors with having no real visible leadership in Beds and Luton.
Q10 - Tom- is there any update on the Mercedes issue? I know there is a lot of staff affected and a lot of man hours lost to staff awaiting vehicles. Is there a wider plan ongoing to address the issue with the Fiats?
Q11 - This organisation seems to have a lot of working groups etc, but there doesn't seem to be a list of these anywhere. It would be great if these could be published, with information as to what they do, minutes of meetings, who is involved, and how others can submit ideas/get involved. It would be great to see increased transparency and insight into the decision-making processes.
Q12 - Tom I see the Platinum Jubilee medal has now been issued to a number of other services. When are our issues being done please?
Q13 - Why are investigation meetings still taking so long? Sadly, being under investigation can lead to low mood and even suicidal thoughts - where is the duty of care? Especially when a conclusion is no case to answer. Please, please do better.
Q14 - Question for Tom: Last week’s Q&A session focused on the great work that is being done to tackle the issue of late finishes for frontline staff. I would like to ask if the Trust is looking into the same problem that is encountered by the majority of support staff? We continually have to work late due to unrealistic work demands and often work on rest days. Rob Ashford confirmed the average late finish time for a frontline crew is 32 minutes, I am sure the majority of support staff work later than this. Does the Trust recognise this is an issue and is affecting the wellbeing of many support staff? The Trust talks of investment into the wellbeing of staff, but this seems heavily weighted towards frontline.
Q15 - Tom, the ability to comment on Need to Know articles was removed, due to being abused, could this be reinstated and those abusing the system being dealt with directly…
Q16 - Hi Tom re. incentive overtime, is a 8 hour shift, work 7:30 hours with half hour break, total shift time is 8 hours including break, or is it 8 hours and half hour break making it a 8 hour shift? There seems to be confusion as it has always been 8 hours.
Q17 - A participant above mentions late offs. May I kindly point out that many frontline staff are managing their EOS time by missing meal breaks thereby finishing in their last hour. Also, many, many staff, especially managers, are having to conduct increasing unpaid work from home simply to get through their workload.. in addition to their frontline duties.
Q18 - When will the staff survey results be released as I believe the Trust has them?
Q19 - Is there any truth in the rumour that those staff on the 'at risk' register will finally be treated properly and as per policies and if so, are those that are already at risk due to no fault of their own be given a status quo rather than being threatened with dismissal before the new process is implicated?
Q20 - Hi is there any update on the urgent care paramedic cars coming back?
Q21 - When will the NHS long service awards event take place?
Published 21st February 2022