It would be difficult for any Chief Executive to top the last couple of weeks, with the Prime Minister and Royal visit, so I won’t try.
But this week has brought its own positive moments that I will share, alongside some of the issues that continue to exercise our minds.
Firstly, I think it is important to say that we are seeing a decline in Covid patients and community infection rates. I know this will provide hope and relief to colleagues and our communities and it is a reflection of the national picture, where the threat from Covid and the Omicron variant in particular appears to be reducing.
This doesn’t mean it has gone away or that we can completely forget about it, of course, and whilst restrictions continue to be removed across the UK it’s important to note that there is no change in healthcare settings where face masks, hand sanitisation and social distancing will remain, alongside restrictions on visitors.
This is because we are still caring for some very poorly people indeed and those who come into hospital for something other than Covid, but test positive for the virus. This requires us to have ‘red’ and ‘green’ pathways and areas where we can manage infection prevention effectively as well as ongoing control measures in place.
We have been able to decommission some of our Covid-specific capacity though and are restoring more wards every day. This is clearly a very welcome development and reflects a national decline in cases across the UK.
The demand for services and especially urgent and emergency care remains high but it is in line with what we would expect in January. This has enabled us to focus on improving our performance such as reducing the time it takes to be seen or how long it takes us to handle patients brought in by ambulance.
I was pleased to see the Trust is now managing these handovers about two or three minutes quicker than average – and you will appreciate every second counts when it comes to getting crews back on the road to people who need them.
Thanks to everyone who has helped us to achieve these improvements. January is always a challenge for the NHS but it is great to feel like we are making progress.
Of course, responding to Covid and providing urgent and emergency care is just one small part of the NHS as a whole and we continue to turn as much attention as possible on reducing the significant backlog of people on waiting lists.
In East Lancashire, we have seen waiting lists grow during the pandemic and some procedures and treatments have undoubtedly been postponed or delayed. But at every available moment, from 2020, through 2021 and into 2022, we have done everything possible to reduce them.
In some areas we have done as well as could be expected amongst the competing pressures, high demand for urgent and emergency care and, at times, high staff absence due to Covid. In other areas, we haven’t made as much progress as we would have liked and the number of people waiting has grown.
I want to note a number of things in relation to this:
- Colleagues across all teams could not have worked any harder at any time – the dedication and effort has been incredible and inspiring
- The Trust as a whole is focused on reducing waiting times and everything possible is being considered to achieve this
- Some procedures and treatments may continue to be postponed or delayed but know this is always a last resort and we do everything possible to avoid it. This can sometimes result in late notice cancellations – but that’s simply because we have tried everything possible to honour appointments, right up until the very last minute when no alternative can be found
- Sometimes patients cancel because they have Covid or don’t want to come in themselves – I understand this and we will try and do everything to support rearranging and reassuring people about elective procedures
- We are starting to work across Lancashire and South Cumbria with our neighbours and partners – including in the private sector – to ensure waiting lists are tackled in the most effective way together. If you are asked to see a different consultant or travel to a different hospital it is simply because this is the best way to ensure you get the treatment you need
To help us manage all of this in the most optimum way, we continue to focus on getting patients home to their families or a more appropriate place for care as soon as we’re able. Thank you to everyone who is helping us with this. That includes colleagues in the wider health and social care system and also families who are working with us to support their loved ones.
The most recent figures for supporting people who no longer need to be in hospital to leave safely and with care packages in place were brilliant. All of this activity makes a huge difference to people and running the Trust in the most effective way, so thank you.
Lastly, I will and must end again with encouragement to get your vaccinations for Covid or ‘flu if you’re eligible as soon as you are able.
I respect the right to hold a different opinion, but I firmly believe that local people and colleagues having a first and second dose as well as the booster has made a huge difference to the impact of Covid and Omicron.
If I consider our experience this month to January last year, there really is no comparison. In 2021 we were overwhelmed with admissions and very poorly people across our hospitals and critical care department. We lost so many people to the virus, including colleagues. It was horrific and something none of us will ever forget.
The last few months have been tough with high demand for care for a range of conditions, but mostly people have been poorly with conditions others Covid, as opposed to being treated primarily for the virus. This is progress that I personally attribute to the vaccine.
You will be aware that in addition to the push on communities to get their jabs, there is national legislation coming into force on April 1 which means the majority of NHS colleagues need to be double vaccinated as a condition of deployment.
It is the case that most people working at ELHT had theirs as soon as they were available, but there are others who did not.
Neither the Trust or myself personally will pressure or coerce colleagues to have the vaccine if they do not wish to do so, but it is inherent on me to be clear that this is national legislation and there is no alternative but to comply.
Colleagues must be double vaccinated to continue to be deployed and this means having a first dose on February 3 and a second by March 31.
Those dates are now very close indeed and I want to use this blog to speak directly to unvaccinated colleagues. Please, talk to the Trust about your vaccination status and we will do everything possible to support you. I genuinely do not want to lose a single member of the team which has worked so hard for so long and played a huge part of our incredible response to Covid.
And so, whilst we can cautiously describe how things are feeling better, I want to be honest that for some the next few weeks will remain a personally pressured and very difficult time indeed.
Take care and look after yourself,
Martin