Hello everyone, welcome to my blog. 
I am sure you will have noticed that the BBC has been featuring the NHS (again!!) this week, focussing on how the NHS is ‘haemorrhaging’ nurses. As part of the BBC focus on nurses, ‘The One Show’ (BBC1 7pm tonight) is featuring the other side of the picture and our Stroke Consultant Nurse, Catherine Curley who is talking about her passion for the job, what she loves about it and why people shouldn’t be put off joining the profession. Tune in if you can.
This brought to my mind the highly satisfying thought that here in ELHT, whilst we are actively recruiting for more nurses, we do manage to keep those (generally) we already have. Our turnover rate is less than 6%, compared to 11% nationally. When our students qualify as registered nurses, 99% of them choose to stay with us. Why is that? There are lots of reasons I’m sure – great colleagues, nice environment, job satisfaction, career progression to name but a few – but it is also thanks to the compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership that each and every one of you displays. That leadership is the domain of every member of staff and there are great leaders throughout our organisation, at all grades. I cannot tell you how proud I am that ELHT has built a reputation for high levels of staff satisfaction, a willingness to recommend the Trust as a place to work, and effective staff engagement. Importantly, we are maintaining that reputation. We truly care about our staff; truly care about supporting them; truly care about helping to keep them well. There are many factors that affect this, but one is uptake of the flu jab. I found out yesterday that we have surpassed last year’s record breaking performance and have vaccinated 86% of staff! That is fantastic and will make a direct contribution to minimising flu on our wards. Thank you to our occupational health team and everybody involved in this achievement. It’s brilliant!
The staff engagement team have also issued a challenge to staff to go 'Around the World in 60 days'. It’s a fun and competitive way to improve your health, fitness and wellbeing. It starts on Monday 22 January and you can follow in the steps of Phileas Fogg, either as a team or on your own. I hope you decide to take up the challenge – more information can be found here.
Our positive organisational culture continues to attract attention and we are currently featured in an NHS Improvement programme called ‘Improving together – One Year On’ which aims to support learning and shared experiences. It’s a great read.
There was an informal Board Strategy meeting this week, and Director of Operations, John Bannister confirmed that the Trust’s performance, apart from the A&E four-hour standard (which we know we must improve upon), has been really impressive, despite the well documented challenges of winter. All standards around referral to treatment times, cancer waiting times, and stroke performance had been met. Chairman, Eileen Fairhurst and all the board members asked that their thanks was passed on to all our staff for their fantastic efforts, and unwavering commitment in achieving this. Well done.
I am sure you have all heard of the Lancashire and South Cumbria STP and the local development plan for Pennine Lancashire (Together a Healthier Future) which is part of it. Please take the time to have a look at the draft plan for Pennine Lancashire, and encourage your family and friends to see it too. If you can, complete the survey. This is a really important development in the future health and social care arrangements for our local population.
Finally, we are experiencing really cold, slippery and windy weather at the moment. Please take care when you are out and about. Perhaps look out for your neighbours who may need a bit of help. And, please remember, if you need treatment over the weekend, choose well. Which is the right option for you?.