Published on: 20 May 2022

Thanks to everyone who continues to link in with feedback on the blog, I’m glad people are enjoying it and finding it useful and interesting.  

I know it was a long edition last week, but hopefully a good one too, and I was relieved not to be bombarded with messages from or about people I had inadvertently forgotten in my shout outs. I hope it goes without saying that I would never intentionally leave anyone out and I always feel sad to realise I have. 

That said, something I purposefully didn’t mention was that a team of inspectors landed at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital last Thursday from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 

I decided to wait and share the news as the team was still on site and actively working when I was writing the blog and so I thought better to hang on and give more details when they emerged. 

The unannounced inspection took place on Thursday and Friday and was part of a system-wide CQC inspection of all urgent and emergency provision across the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS). This was announced in March and the team had already visited University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust (LSCft) during the past couple of months. 

For this reason, our inspection focused mostly on the urgent and emergency care departments at Blackburn and the report will be part of the overall system feedback report due in June. 

I can give you some headlines and some personal observations though about how it went in my opinion. 

Firstly, the response from everyone at the Trust was just brilliant. We do get about 30 minutes notice that they’re going to land and it was impressive that by the time they were in the A&E department people were on hand to greet them, ready to understand and support their needs and, most importantly, get them a brew. 

I’d like to thank everyone who was part of the inspection over the two days – the warm welcome, the open and transparent way people interacted with the team and the dedication and professionalism demonstrated made a great impression. It was excellent. It is always very evident that ELHT staff are not fearful of such inspections, rather they see it as an opportunity to showcase the great care they provide to our patients, and rightly so.  

I am also clear that the inspectors, some of whom have been visiting neighbouring Trusts as part of this review and also others up and down the country in their work, were fully aware of the pressure urgent and emergency pathways are under and that this has been the case for a while. I felt it was acknowledged they weren’t expecting to see a ‘perfect’ environment and I think that kind of pragmatic approach from regulators is a great basis upon which to have some really honest conversations. 

Since the CQC’s departure there have been no immediate issues of concern raised or regulatory action or enforcement notices and, whilst we await the formal report, that is a very positive starting point. 

Of course, there will be areas they think we could tackle differently or improve – and we’ll welcome feedback, ideas, suggestions and, indeed, any concerns openly as part of our commitment to continuous improvement and delivering safe, personal and effective care.  

I expect they’ll reiterate some things that we are already aware of and are working on but it’s good to have an opportunity to assure ourselves and patients and their families that we are focused on the right areas for improvement. 

Lastly, on this topic, I wanted to pass on that the CQC team did recognise the health and well-being of colleagues in urgent and emergency teams and the impact the relentless pressure on the department can have on people. 

There has been a lot of consideration of this by colleagues, particularly over the past two years as we tackled the pandemic, and I hope it goes without saying that support for individuals and teams is available to anyone who needs it right across the organisation. Please, if you need help, support or anything more formal – ask your line manager or raise it with someone you trust. 

Some of the provision includes interventions and support from our wonderful Well Team, the spiritual care team, volunteers, the hospital charity ELHT&Me and indeed staff and patients themselves. I am always very proud to know we’re a place where we look out and care for each other as a priority. 

On this point I want to reference the ongoing changes to infection prevention control around the Trust and how this will affect colleagues, patients and visitors too. These changes are in line with the Government’s Living with Covid-19 Plan and also correspondence received this week from Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Executive, which outlines the next steps on ‘transitioning’ from Covid -19 response to recovery. You can see this letter here. 

The first thing to say is that we no longer have the strict measures in place around social distancing and can be one metre apart in meeting rooms or offices in the Trust and not have to wear a face mask in these non-clinical areas. It has been just brilliant to see people face to face in meetings and having lunch together in our restaurants and seating areas. 

In addition, the tape that prevented people from entering certain areas or sitting in certain seats has gone. It feels like real progress. 

We will still sanitise our hands and wear face masks on entry into and when moving around all our settings and would ask all colleagues, patients and visitors to respect this unless exempt. It’s true we will also retain the ‘keep left’ and one way signage which has helped people move around easier and in some cases where colleagues prefer it or where it would cause damage to remove, we’ll be keeping some of the Perspex screens in place too. Clinical colleagues will also be asked to continue to change into or out of scrubs at work rather than come in wearing uniforms. 

Thank you to everyone for the ongoing co-operation with this, it’s important and appreciated. 

Finally for today – another plug to please not forget to nominate colleagues in the annual ELHT Star Awards. This staff recognition event is a firm favourite in the Trust diary and whilst we have planned a virtual event again this year – I know it’s going to be really special and none the less poignant for those involved. You can see the categories and put forward your ‘stars’ here

Thanks, 

Martin