Hello everyone!
We've had some great news this week - confirmation of £6m government funding to expand and improve our Emergency Department. This is so important as we approach winter, in the midst of a pandemic! It will allow us to quickly increase our capacity there with extra cubicles and treatment space but importantly, it will also improve the environment for our staff. You can read the press release here
While our patients and their care is the reason we all come to work, I make no apology for mentioning the importance of the impact on our staff. It is absolutely crucial that all our staff - whatever they do - know how seriously we take their welfare, health and wellbeing. The pressure they work under, especially just now, is relentless and we want to do everything we possibly can to support them. As we approach what will undoubtedly be a difficult winter, combined with COVID and the extensive work to restore services to pre- COVID levels, their resilience cannot be taken for granted and must be protected. While we have various programmes and initiatives available to support staff, including our resilience hub, occupation health service, and the health and wellbeing team, there are some simple steps that everyone should take - and managers must help with this - to stay well. For example, make sure you take a break during your shift; stay hydrated and eat well; take the leave you are entitled to and switch off; use the Oasis rooms; talk to someone. You matter. Don't ever forget that!
Yes. Winter. Preparations are now well under way and that means that our staff flu vaccination​programme will begin on Monday. You don't need me to tell you how important it is to protect yourselves from flu. Here at ELHT, we have a long track record of successfully vaccinating enormous numbers of staff and now, more than ever before, we need to repeat - indeed improve on - that success. Last year, we achieved 94.8%; this year, let's do 98.4%, or even more! Be an inFLUencer, get your jab. InFLUence others - colleagues, friends and family - to get theirs.
Staff can also inFLUence the Trust, its direction and its culture. The national NHS Staff Survey begins on Monday and I am urging ALL staff to take this opportunity to have your say. We really mean it when we say we want to hear from you; to listen to you. Your views, your feelings, your ideas and your feedback is really important. The survey is absolutely confidential and it is your opportunity to make a difference and inFLUence our future. Please take it. You can read more about both inFluencer campaigns in Other News.
We had our first ever online AGM this week, which was certainly different than previous such events. Kevin McGee presented a review of the year which clearly demonstrated that we continue to perform well, and have an awful lot to be proud of. Chairman Eileen Fairhurst hosted the meeting and on behalf of the Board, thanked all staff for their ongoing commitment and service to our community. There were, of course, some highlights including our celebrity therapy dog Jasper and his owner David Anderson as well as a very powerful film reflecting our COVID experience. Whilst Jasper is always the star, wherever he goes, the three minute film is a lasting and poignant tribute to our staff and our supporters. You can watch it on our website, along with the Annual Report and Accounts, and our flagship publication 'COVID Stories' here.
Finally, I want to share some feedback from a patient praising a member of staff:
We arrived at endoscopy and met a Nurse called Cath. She was the most wonderful caring kind funny lady I have ever experienced in the nursing profession. She addressed the cancer straight away with frank but considerate conversation. She assured Mum that she would be looked after on the ward and promised her that she would get her home the same day post recovery and said 'If I have to work later to make sure you are well and get home I will'. Despite the factors of the day affecting us we were laughing and Mum was completely at ease and almost forgot about her troubles and seemed to relax - this was because of Cath!
This is lovely feedback and I want to say thank you and well done to Cath. But I know our Trust is made up of thousands of 'Caths'. So I want to repeat what I said a little earlier in this blog - our staff are our Trust and you matter. Keep doing what you are doing, and take good care of yourselves as well as our patients.
Martin