Hello everyone, I wish I could say 'happy Friday', as I often do, but that doesn't feel quite right just now.
I know we are currently in a really challenging situation. Despite the efforts of government, local authorities, ourselves in the NHS and indeed the local community, Covid infection rates remain very high, throughout the North West. This then impacts on our services, and of course, our staff. We are extremely busy in our hospitals.
I do understand how hard this is for everyone in ELHT, but especially those in our wards, intensive care units and our A&E. I want to say a massive thank you for everything you are doing and please keep up the fantastic work. But also, do look after yourselves and protect your resilience too. You matter, and we care about you. We are providing support through our Health and Wellbeing team, and the Spiritual Care Centre. Please use what's available and tell us if there is anything else practical that would help. But also remember to take your breaks, stay hydrated, rest and take your leave. And importantly, keep yourselves safe while at work - stick to the social distancing rules; wear all appropriate PPE. Honestly, I can't thank you enough.
Some good news though! We will very soon be able to increase our on-site testing capacity and capability. This will help us prevent transmission in our hospitals and keep our staff safe. It will also help with our ongoing (and successful) efforts to maintain non-covid and cancer services. It's a real testament to all our staff that, up to now, we have delivered, and even exceeded our trajectory for restoring services. It's so important that our patients and community remain confident in our services - in hospitals, out in the community and in primary care - and understand that they should keep appointments and seek treatment unless they are directly asked not to.
We've been working for some time with partners across Lancashire and South Cumbria on pathology collaboration with the aim to improve streamlining of services and efficiency right across the ICS. It's a big project with lots of implications especially for staff. After a significant engagement process, I am pleased to be able to report that a preferred location for a Pathology Hub (in the event that a hub and spoke model is eventually opted for) has been identified as Leyland. Our staff have been involved in this process and informed about this outcome. There is still some way to go with an Outline Business Case to be considered next year. More information is available on OLI here.
It is the last Sunday in October this weekend and we have always held a special service for lost babies and their families. Sadly, we are not able to physically host the service but it will take place online at 2pm this Sunday. You are welcome to join this service and can use this link. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible. It is an important and well attended event and I offer my sympathies and best wishes to all the families affected.
And finally, you'll be well aware that winter is our busiest and most pressured time of year. We are reminded of its imminent approach when it is time to turn the clocks back an hour on Saturday night. Yes, we will all have an extra hour of daylight on Sunday; sadly, there's not a lot we can do with it!
Thank you again, each and every one of you, especially if you are working over the weekend. If you are off - perhaps even have a long break planned for half term - I hope you manage some high quality rest.
Oh, and remember hands; face; space. Tell everyone you know.
Best wishes everyone. Until next time....