Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 02 May 2024 at 02:09
A recording of the latest We Are EEAST Briefing and Executive Q&A, led by Chief Operating Officer Marcus Bailey, is now available. To view individual questions please see the time stamps below.
Introduction from Marcus
Starts @ 00:48
Ends @ 13:18
Questions
Q1 - Given the sustained high number of vehicles tied up outside hospitals and out of service awaiting parts (or labour) are we not risking negative PR by persisting with several commercial contracts in the public arena when there are many private ambulance providers that could undertake that work? How would we respond to a challenge of this sort from relatives of patients referenced in the SIs that are circulated most days? Would it not be better to be seen to have all our available vehicles - and OT – directed to supporting A&E Ops?
Starts @ 14:00
Ends @ 18:07
Q2 - How much notice should an employee receive if they are due to go down to half pay? Bit of a shock to be told with a weeks’ notice. Causing more stress in the middle of everything. Do I come back to work even though not fully fit?
Starts @ 18:09
Ends @ 19:06
Q3 - Any update on a county model ambulance service? What does it look like, what progress has there been? Will it reduce 'cross border' working?
Starts @ 19:08
Ends @ 23:57
Q4 - Apologies if this has been asked before: Will you do something to make sure that hot2 backup requests get a response in a timely way? Patients often get a worse deal if an RRV is sent than they would if they waited longer for a DSA. In my area it can take between 2-4 hours to get a hot2. This is a poor experience for the patient, while waiting we’re unavailable for emergencies and it may force RRVs to take risks to get patients to hospital by other means.
Starts @ 23:59
Ends @ 24:56
Q5 - Following the poor attempt of a pay rise suggested by the government, when will EEAST join the majority of the UK ambulance service trusts and have ECSW as Band 4 and EMT at Band 5 with Yorkshire ambulance being the most recent to update their banding within the last few weeks?
Starts @ 25:03
Ends @ 27:26
Q6 - It’s disappointing to read the negative spin on introducing staff responders in the press today (looking at your BBC). I’m sure this stance is that of a minority (who are obviously under no obligation to be involved) as this is otherwise a long overdue step to mitigate risk in the community and deliver an opportunity for staff to develop and gain experience. The time for major change (whatever the initiative) is now. Just look at our performance this week. It’s beyond terrifying.
Starts @ 27:30
Ends @ 31:47
Q7 - It is a real shame that I witnessed some really negative comments from EEAST staff on social media regarding the staff responder scheme. Many were commenting that it is the Trust using and abusing staff, when we know it was staff led. Marcus, what more can we do to stop staff posting inappropriate content to social media?
Starts @ 27:30
Ends @ 31:47
Q8 - 2022 the Trust should have volunteer emergency responders like London, that drive on blues and are trained up to relevant level.
Starts @ 33:50
Ends @ 36:15
Q9 - Hi Marcus, Great consideration has been given before asking this in one of your Q&A sessions, but we seem to be getting nowhere with this. How long does it take for a job to go through a banding review process, surely not over two years, which is the current situation? So many barriers have been put up, and challenges back to avoid this particular review moving forward. It has been approved and signed off by the relevant people. Where is the openness and transparency as to why this has taken so long? Can you help please?
Starts @ 36:17
Ends @ 37:27
Q10 - Marcus - can you hold an immediate review/take action regarding rostering services. Requests made over a month ago, with chase emails and no acknowledgement. This can lead to overpayments which is stressful for staff. If it is a capacity issue, surely we need to direct temp. redeployed staff to rostering services. Can we not go for a dedicated rostering manager per sector OR give the sector resource planning managers more authorisation for functions on GRS?
Starts @ 37:32
Ends @ 38:16
Q11 - What is the Trusts view on physical and verbal assault on staff. Would you say that physical assault is more recognised than verbal assaults? Or does the Trust treat them equally as important as one another? Thank you.
Starts @ 38:17
Ends @ 40:59
Additional information - In reply to the question regarding assaults, we treat verbal assaults the same as physical assaults. Since March this year we have been sending out acknowledgement letters and wellbeing information to all staff involved in any form of assault. On behalf of the HS&S Team.
Q12 - How is it that after BBR, staff who are on agreed lines, now be told they owe hours, and will have to either pay back in annual leave or come to work and do shifts to pay back this time??? and why is this allowed to happen knowing the stress and exhausting shifts staff have had for the last 2 years?
Starts @ 41:02
Ends @ 43:50
Q13 - Can you push the work on making a hot 2 back up sit alongside a C2 rather than below it. The backup delays for RRV’s are running into hours. Thanks.
Starts @ 43:57
Ends @ 44:26
Q14 - What is the plan for staff currently unable to drive the fiat ambulances? Countless patient facing hours are being lost because there are not enough appropriate vehicles available to work on. Are these staff able to do overtime? If overtime is not available to these staff because of a lack of appropriate vehicles then this is discrimination on the basis of the height/size.
Starts @ 44:28
Ends @ 49:42
Q15 - Today it has been announced that WMAS have "given up" their contract to provide 111 services in the area to concentrate on 999 provision. A few years ago, it was rumoured that EEAST would consider bidding for 111 contracts, is that something we are considering still or has Covid-demand-system pressures put a stop on those conversations?
Starts @ 49:43
Ends @ 54:38
Q16 - I am a bank staff for EoE. I have put myself forward for numerous shifts over the last week when the emails went out for extra help, only to be told there is no clinical crew to be paired up. I fear I am not the only one who makes my availability known but am not utilised. If I put my availability to a private ambulance provider I would be snapped up within 60 mins. This is the difference between central ability to allocate resource compared to single station. This needs more centralising to utilise available staff more. I would even go further and suggest staff be given the ability to offer themselves for future dates and times of availability for 8, 10, 12-hour shifts. Then a 'matching' service can work in the background.
Starts @ 54:40
Ends @ 57:10
Q17 – Hi Marcus, alongside the trial for staff responders, do you think it could be extended to support staff who are also clinicians, but live in a different locality?
Starts @ 57:12
Ends @ 58:11
Close
Starts @ 58:12
Ends @ 59:27
You can catch up on previous We Are EEAST Briefings on our Archive page. You can also catch up on Local Manager's Briefings here.
Published 25th July 2022