Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 06 May 2024 at 12:08
This week's We Are EEAST Briefing and Executive Q&A was led by Tom Abell, CEO. This week Tom was joined by Hein Scheffer, Director of Education, Culture and Education.
Introduction from Tom
Starts @ 00:09
Ends @ 06:19
and
Starts @ 16:17
Ends @ 19:03
Introduction from Hein
Starts @ 06:23
Ends @ 15:59
Questions
Q1 - Please can we have an update as to the provision of uniform supply. Personally, I submitted a uniform order when the new QS link was initiated before Christmas 2022 and have been waiting for new trousers, an RTC jacket and polo shirts before Christmas and have received nothing. Our LOMs are doing their best but no uniform is coming through. I have holes in my trousers and an RTC jacket that no longer fits.
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 19:11
Ends @ 20:56
Q2 - I appreciate the sensitivity of the recent disturbing news regarding a member of staff conducting covert videoing and an upcoming programme. Is the Trust looking to seek legal proceedings against this person? Will there be an investigation into the current vetting procedures of staff applying to join the Trust? Has the Trust considered submitting a FOI to the program makers to ascertain if or how much this individual was paid for their actions? Although staff were allegedly anonymised by the programme producers, they may still be easily identifiable by their colleagues? Will these staff be protected from disciplinary procedures by the Trust and would the Trust support legal procedures taken by staff against this person, if they chose to peruse such action?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 20:58
Ends @ 23:28
Q3 - I always come into work early for my shift. I am expected to book on immediately at my start time. However, it is a frequent occurrence that I have no RRV to even book onto, let alone the fact the RRVs are rarely 'made ready'. In order to stand a chance of booking on at the appropriate time I have to use my own time to prepare an RRV. This is tantamount to enforced unpaid overtime and at 15-30mins every shift that is a lot of money or lost TOIL. What, if any action, is being taken to ensure that adequate numbers of RRVs are available in my area and why are they not part of the make ready process?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 23:30
Ends @ 24:54
Q4 - I have had a Tusker car with the salary sacrifice scheme for 2yrs now and I hope to extend once my contract has ended. I appreciate costs have increased considerably; however, I see that staff working for example at the hospital, and under their NHS contact, they use a different leasing company which seems to offer more options on vehicles available and their prices appear more competitive. Going forward, would EASTAMB negotiate more competitive prices or move elsewhere away from Tusker?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 24:56
Ends @ 26:05
Q5 - I am currently working on AWDs and during this time realised that the Trust empties out of date fluids and glucose down the sink as a way of disposal. There is currently no policy for how to dispose of these in any other way. Is there a better way to deal with this or potentially reaching out to charities who would use out of date fluids and glucose in crisis, war, and rescue teams if the entire trust is disposing this way, I can't imagine the amount going to waste.
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 26:06
Ends @ 27:27
Q6 – Hello, the results of the world’s largest trial of a 4-day week (with no loss of pay) are out:
- No drop in performance.
- 65% fewer sick days.
- 71% less burnout.
- 92% of companies decide to keep the policy after the trial.
Appreciating our 24/7 service, our continued pressures, worsening wellbeing, and increasing staff fatigue and attrition, is this something EEAST would be interested in exploring do you think please?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 27:29
Ends @ 29:43
Q7 - When can we get in person ECS/PU back? Other Trusts have reintroduced it following increased SI's. Some staff feel really undervalued with the lack of this currently.
Answered by Tom and Hein
Starts @ 29:45
Ends @ 30:33
Q8 - May I ask the Director of Education how they feel about the spread of misinformation across the Trust and what I feel can only be described as the unfair distribution of the opportunity to upskill. Some Apprentices have been informed throughout their career that they may not apply to upskill until they have formally qualified to the point where they have changed their epaulettes, but others have been able to apply as apprentices and be granted the opportunity to upskill before others. This is an unfair spread of misinformation, leading disappointment and much frustration.
Answered by Hein
Starts @ 30:44
Ends @ 32:09
Q9 - Hello Hein, may I ask for an actual answer to this question - when will there be a technician course for staff to go onto? Everyone I ask says something different.
Answered by Hein
Starts @ 32:12
Ends @ 32:46
Q10 – Hi, please can you confirm if the leadership days are going ahead on 23rd or 27th? I keep being sent Agendas daily but several of my colleagues have had cancellations of the event in their diaries.
Additional information – The Ops team has confirmed that they are going ahead.
Answered by Hein
Starts @ 32:54
Ends @ 33:19
Q11 - Please can you explain why CPD has now been cut even further to just Evolve and talking about ALS? As staff are very upset that we have lost a day in the classroom, and this used to help staff with welfare and a safe environment to be able to discuss training issues in a safe place. Now staff will not have that opportunity and staff are all complaining about this in their appraisal’s, so I hope senior managers are listening.
Answered by Tom and Hein
Starts @ 33:26
Ends @ 34:39
Q12 - Hope you are doing well all, Hein may be able to help with this, why are ECAs & ECSWs being branded the same? A 3-week course is completely different to an RFQ 18 month, 8 week in training school qualification?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 34:45
Ends @ 35:35
Q13 - Will hearing chairs have any training in regard to outcomes they make during hearings relating to racism? Will there be a standardisation of outcomes?
Additional information from Hein Scheffer - All chairs have been trained in their roles, and we have rolled out new EDI training that is mandatory that I also attended and will help our chairs in ensuring they understand how to deal with racism, discrimination, or victimisation.
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 35:37
Ends @ 36:57
Q14 – (Stephen Dubery) Email me directly with what you need. This week we are re-loading all the hierarchy onto the Cooneen portal but there is no longer any issue with availability. It will however take a week for Cooneen to remove all users and then reload all users back onto the portal. Communications to LOM's was sent regarding this by Graham Kent. Whilst there may have been individual issues - we are spending circa £7000 a month with Coonnen currently - so it is isolated issues- which we hope the reloading will resolve. Magnum Boots can still be ordered through Specialwear. Hope that helps and apologies that it’s taken a time to get right.
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 36:59
Ends @ 37:44
Q15 - Rather than go through the trouble of a FOI request... can you be transparent and disclose here and now how much the two leadership days at Newmarket have cost the Trust? With staff willing to strike over pay and terms and conditions, the timing seems really off. We seem to be falling back into the trap of 'wasting' public money. What next... another headquarters at Cambourne???
Additional information from Hein Scheffer - These also provide great valued feedback from our people about how we address their needs and support all our people across the Trust.
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 37:45
Ends @ 39:19
Q16 - It is becoming increasingly demoralising seeing the appointments of Deputy Directors to substantive posts, yet most teams in this organisation have to have secondment after secondment... and not recruit. How are we able to sustain good morale, consistency and wellbeing when we can't recruit… and have to wait until 'the budget is set'.
Additional information from Hein Scheffer - The HRBP are working very closely with the Leadership Team to better understand the current use of secondments. These secondments are a good development tool, appointment to substantial posts remains our ambition and we are working to reduce the number of secondments across the Trust.
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 39:21
Ends @ 40:38
Q17 - Is it true that the Trust have actually purchased the Mercedes ambulances. Should this not be publicised so staff who have feared losing their jobs feel a bit more secure?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 40:39
Ends @ 41:44
Q18 - We now need to do face to face fire safety training as part of our statutory and mandatory training. There are two days advertised for Melbourn in March, no future dates advertised. Previous dates were in December. Peterborough, one day available in March, no further dates advertised. Previous in January.
The rest of the list is far away from me, but all have limited dates. Each course only has 10 spaces.
I cannot find one that I can attend around my work commitments. Do you have any hope that all staff will attend these courses. What will be the consequences if we are unable to attend?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 41:46
Ends @ 42:57
Q19 - Please, for comparison, can we see the breakdown for all staff, male/female and other focus groups - although it is important to recognise that we have work to do as a Trust, I feel that these comments would be similar for the wider workforce also.
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 42:59
Ends @ 44:54
Q20 - Is there going to be a restructure (job roles etc) in the Trust and if so when?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 44:55
Ends @ 45:55
Q21 - Some roles within the EOC have just been asked to justify their roles as part of a ‘review’. Are the Trust looking to remove roles from the EOC or make people redundant?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 46:07
Ends @ 46:40
Q22 - Where do I stand as a NQP being put a secondment with someone unqualified if they are putting my pin at risk, can I decline it and refuse to work with that individual?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 46:42
Ends @ 47:22
Q23 - I'm currently undertaking the Apprentice Paramedic course, and due to the distance to the training centre I require accommodation. Currently the Trust will only expense £55 for accommodation; with the recent cost of living increases there are NO hotels within that area for £55 or below, I am having to pay for the remainder out of my own pocket. Is the Trust able to review this?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 47:23
Ends @ 48:04
Q24 - Is there a plan to increase the mileage contribution given the cost-of-living increase? It has been the same for a very long time.
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 48:06
Ends @ 49:09
Q25 - When will the Trust follow NHSE guidance on not being responsible for cohorting at hospital, and force the hands of the acute Trusts to release crews in a timely fashion by use of 15-minute drop - a process that was going to be used during industrial action??
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 49:12
Ends @ 50:39
Q26 - Where do I stand as an NQP, I’m still in 6 months and been put on a secondment with someone who’s unqualified and to be honest is clinically unsafe, am unable to refuse to work with them?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 50:41
Ends @ 51:08
Q27 - Hi Tom, any update on Time to Lead? When can we start to see outputs across the trust so that we can do more to support our teams.
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 51:10
Ends @ 51:54
Q28 - Tom, are you aware of the existing ‘old boys club’ and its culture that is still endemic at a senior level within this organisation? What are you and your team doing about it and how can we make sure this doesn’t affect good change that is attempting to be completed within the Trust?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 51:56
Ends @ 53:34
Q29 - Will there be a plan in place to have HALOs who are paid the same as LOMs (and are frequently told they are part of the band 7 management team) to be brought into line with the LOMs and have GRS access, teams, and be treated in the same manner as the LOMs?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 53:36
Ends @ 54:14
Q30 - Do we know yet if we are having a restructure and will the trust look at redeployment or redundancy. It is looking increasingly likely that a restructure is about to happen in EOC.
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 54:15
Ends @ 55:12
Q31 – Can you please provide more transparency regarding the multiple failings from the findings from the hate crime graffiti investigation. Did anything else come to light regarding the practice of investigations not being appropriately conducted within the organisation and when did these failings most recently occur?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 55:16
Ends @ 57:05
Q32 - When will hospital arrival times be attached to the patient rather than the vehicle?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 57:07
Ends @ 57:48
Q33 - Will the Trust be bringing back wide-scale celebrate EEAST events that we had before Covid? It usually gave everyone a chance to meet people from across the Trust in a more informal setting.
Additional information from Julie Hollings - There will be a 'Stars of EEAST' event in early July, celebrating long service & special recognition awards.
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 57:50
Ends @ 58:16
Q34 – RRV Back Up’s, this is a continuing question from previous ones I’ve submitted historically. The current system of hot1, Hotwire etc isn’t working and not offering good care to our patients. If I worked as a paramedic in an external NHS organisation, I can see and treat a patient and call EEAST for a cat1,2,3,4 back up. The patient receives a timely response. On an RRV I can only request hot 1 (70mins it took recently) and hot 2’s (hours and hours). It seems unfair that pt’s unfortunate enough to receive an RRV response get a worse deal than anyone else seeing a HCP or receives a DSA response. Rob Ashdod was doing work on this but it’s gone quiet and he leaves at the end of March. Can we have a better system by simply using the HCP line framework? Thanks in advance.
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 58:17
Ends @ 59:36
Q35 - Hi there, could I just clarify the current bariatric provision available within the trust? My current understanding is that there is a select amount of money provided to the Trust for bariatric support including equipment. I understand that the Evac Pro+ is currently in the process of being rolled out to the LOM vehicles and training is being rolled out but aside from this what else is provided currently to support the manual handling of the bariatric patients within our community?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 59:37
Ends @ 1:00:42
Q36 - When we are providing staff for the hospitals in the form of cohorting, why are we not charging them for the staff?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 1:00:43
Ends @ 1:01:47
Q37 - It is noticed that face to face mandatory training is now being implemented, both fire and first aid training, why is it all of a sudden we have to go to face-to-face training. We have completed these training online. Do staff who work from home and those who are non-facing really need to complete these types of traning?
Answered by Tom
Starts @ 1:01:50
Ends @ 1:03:08
Close from Tom
Starts @ 1:03:10
Ends @ 1:03:30
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 13th March 2023