Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 05 May 2024 at 11:58
This week's We Are EEAST Briefing and Executive Q&A was led by Chief Information Officer Marcus Bailey.
Q1 - There was a question a few weeks ago asking if frontline staff could be offered the jumper that staff in the AOCs wear. I think a better option would be to have a sleeveless version of the softshell jacket and the puffer jacket. This would keep the body core warm and also comply with the IPC bare below the elbows rule. Is it possible for the Trust to make enquires regarding this through the appropriate channels please?
Q2 - When Anthony Marsh was the Interim Chief Executive of EEAST about 8 years ago, he gave Paramedics the opportunity to become Senior Paramedics. For some, this involved taking and passing a mentoring course. On passing this course, you moved up into the Band 6 pay scale and could use the title Senior Paramedic (Mentor). At the time, we were told that we would not be given epaulettes with that title due to cost, and we would continue to wear Paramedic epaulettes. Bearing in mind that we now have colleagues wearing epaulettes with the titles Senior Emergency Medical Technician and Apprentice Emergency Medical Technician, is it now time to recognise the achievements of Senior Paramedic (Mentors) and give them the correct epaulettes to reflect this achievement?
Q3 - Whilst I understand the Trusts decision to contract out to private (front line) ambulance providers to help during ongoing surge in demand, where is the logic in taking on a provider who then actively recruits staff from the Trust therefor exacerbating the staff turnover, staff shortages within the Trust? What plans, if any, does the Trust have to try to retain staff preventing the current exodus of experienced staff?
Q4 - My annual review is due shortly and my line manager has approximately 30 people reporting to him.
A) Apart from whatever I tell him, what information will he use to assess my performance?
B) Where / how should he have sourced this other information?
C) Is this other information accurate, objective and available for my review?
D) Spans of control of 30 would not be tolerated in any other sector. Can you explain what the problems are with large spans of control, and why they do not apply to EEAST?
Q5 - Can you please explain the rationale behind lowering the new ECA entry requirements from 5 GCSEs to 2. The job description states that there will be career development opportunities, but this falls well below the minimum entry requirements for any further EMT/Para course. Is this not potentially misleading?
Q6 - Hi Marcus, is there any update on staff responders? With increased call volumes in areas, there will be clinical managers who could respond during the day/evening if we had the equipment to do so?
Q7 - On a daily basis resources are having to be moved into Essex due to the amount of calls outstanding compared to other areas. Any thoughts on what the issue is in Essex that requires such action, is it because more people in Essex call 999 or because we haven't got the establishment/resourcing right?
Q8 - Hi Marcus after over 23yrs I have decided the Trust is no longer one I joined. You mention 5 - 10yr plan, personally what is the Trust aiming to do re keeping staff? The burn out and retention is not good, I have seen so many managers say same thing time and time again, but all fail to deliver. I hope your right, but we still get poor service, equipment. (Cannulas and rubbish ambulance’s) poor training opportunities, is it not time for staff to get the right opportunities and good kit.
Q9 - Marcus - numerous colleagues from my locality have enquired about the booking of Xmas annual leave policy. They are somewhat confused about what is happening. Are you able to provide an update on what is happening and whether we can wait until Xmas 2023 to go live as there have been conflicting messages about booking or not booking Xmas leave for this year?
Q10 - What is being done to mitigate the huge number of non-MPDS call handler cat 1 calls which are literally running crews ragged, many of which code as code 9 and upon arrival barely meet a category 3 response but take resources away from high priority category 2 calls?
Q11 - Hello, have highlighted recent extreme delays in off load to Tom via emails, one of my questions is why is it the Trust issues an internal critical incident, this affects end of shift protections, meal breaks etc, but there appears to be no similar action being carried out by the hospitals. If this is incorrect and they are issuing these incidents can they be shared at the time via MDT. It will highlight that actions are being taken by the hospital.
Q12 - What is the plan for returning to the office and face to face meetings? Are staff going to be expected to return to working in offices?
Q13 - Tom Abel promised an answer as to the launch of a men’s focus group. Many of us feel desperately underrepresented in the current NHS, many of those with acute mental health problems within our workforce are male and our tragic events are all male - yet gain, we are celebrating diversity in other areas but not recognising 40% of our workforce?
Q14 - You mentioned clear identification of clinical role, why are there still managers etc that use pips crowns etc without also having Paramedic/Call Handler/Dispatcher/Tech also on them.
Q15 - We need the opportunities like you suggest but why do we have to do it in our time? My new NHS Trust gives me mandatory in work time and courses in work time. Why does EEAST say in own or on overtime, once we were admired and led, now we appear to be sheep who follow.
Q16 - Recently Rob Ashford claimed a success in the end of shift trial, yes end of shift times have reduced but at a cost of most crews sacrificing their meal break to give them a 1 hr window toward the end of shift to enable them to get home on time, using policy to force the Trust to end their shift - hardly a success really?
Q17 - Are there opportunities for senior managers to join the on-call rota? It appears there isn't a clear pathway to this for professional development and alternative opportunities for non-shift working managers.
Q18 - When is the Trust going to stop advising that all posts being advertised must have a degree? We have excellent members of staff who have the experience but not the degree and they’re being stopped from going for promotion.
You can catch up on previous We Are EEAST Briefings on our Archive page.
Published 28th February 2022