Update from Anthony Marsh - 26th February 2015

Chief Executive Dr Anthony Marsh

‘Ambition:’ very simply defined as a ‘strong desire to do or achieve something.’

When I joined the Trust last year I set six priorities that I wanted everyone to focus on, regardless of their role; as many of you will have heard me say, I believe that if everything is a priority then nothing is a priority, so it was important that we all focused on the most vital things that would improve the care we give to our patients and as well as better supporting our staff.

This week I held a briefing with management teams from across the Trust, and I remember the looks of disbelief a year ago as I shared those six priorities at a similar briefing meeting. I will be the first to admit that they were bold priorities. Recruiting hundreds of student paramedics from scratch, implementing brand new staff development pathways and embarking on a vehicle replacement programme bigger than any another ambulance service had ever done before was no easy feat. But we did it!

And I know that even six months ago it was difficult to think about our performance improving to the level we wanted it to be. But since the start of the year, we have consistently been one of the best (if not the best) performing ambulance service for the national Red 1 target and our most seriously ill patients.

The success is not just in our emergency service – I am delighted that we have won the west Essex PTS contract, which you can read about in a separate article. I have always said that we are best placed to run PTS, so well done to everyone involved in putting together the winning bid. Also Norfolk NHS 111 is consistently the best or second best performing 111 provider in England.

So be ambitious. Because if we want EEAST to be the best ambulance service in the country, it can be. It’s your ambition and drive that’s meant we have not only achieved, but actually exceeded, every one of the six priorities I set last year. The results we’ve seen so far are a testament to each of you, and I know there’s more we can do. Now the challenge is to maintain it for our patients and to continue working together to keep moving onwards and upwards.

We aren’t quite at the finishing line yet, but if we all keep focused on what we need to do I have every confidence that we will carry on improving. You have my full support – and I’d encourage you to contact me directly if there’s an issue that you feel you need my backing on. Keep those ambitions high and keep up the good work.

Published 26th February 2015

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