Published on: 1 May 2020

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Hello everyone, welcome to my blog this week.

I hope you enjoy it, though I don’t expect this week’s offering to make the local newspaper, as last week’s did. You can read the article here.

I am going to focus on a letter received from Sir Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of the NHS, who wrote to all chief executives and chairs, describing the plans for ‘phase 2’ of the NHS response to Covid-19.

The letter confirmed that the NHS had responded amazingly well in phase 1 of the pandemic and in just six weeks, went from no inpatients with Covid19 to 19000 inpatients per day.  Thankfully, it now appears that the numbers are beginning to decrease, but we expect Covid to be with us for quite a while yet.

The reasons for the excellent response from the NHS can be attributed greatly to the commitment and flexibility of the NHS workforce.  The national workforce was bolstered with 10,000 returning professionals, 27,000 students and more than 600,000 volunteers.  I am delighted that here in ELHT we benefited from staff in all these groups.  This amazing workforce, coupled with the adherence to staying home and social distancing by the general public, has meant the NHS managed; it was not overwhelmed.  Everyone who needed hospital treatment, including intensive care, got it (and this continues of course).  We have introduced some new ways of working - for example more people working from home, virtual clinics and consultations, and these will no doubt stay with us; and the support shown to us by all our stakeholders has been simply amazing.  I have been stunned by the generosity shown by individuals, small firms, large firms and foundations – thank you.

Now, as we enter this second phase, we need to carry on working with our partners in social care, primary care and the independent sector to step up activity and restore services to previous levels.  We want to assure our communities that we are, as we always have been, there for them. Our message is  ‘help us to help you’ and if you need treatment, the NHS is here to give it.  Please contact your GP if you need referral for symptoms or  contact 111. Our emergency departments are safe with Covid and non-Covid pathways.  There will be a growing need for community care primary care support and mental health care services as a result of Covid.  We’ve got lots to do!

What we can be absolutely sure of is that our staff will step up, they will respond to ongoing demands of phase 2.  You need to know that you will continue to be supported and valued. You are the heart and soul of ELHT; you are safe, personal and effective.

 

Martin,

Deputy Chief Executive