Happy New Year to all my readers – I hope 2018 brings everything you would wish for!
It has certainly started with a bang, and the predicted increase in winter pressures has materialised. For us, this means that we have been incredibly busy throughout the hospital with impact being felt by everybody. I am very, very proud of every single member of staff – you have responded to the challenge (which I have no doubt will last for a few weeks more yet) with you usual skill, commitment and importantly, good humour. I simply cannot thank you enough. We have continued to receive lovely feedback from patients, directly to staff, some write to me, it’s on social media and in some cases, like this one, it’s on NHS Choices.
The incessant media coverage of a ‘crisis’ in the NHS makes it easy to overlook the ongoing calm professionalism – the very essence of our trust - which prevails, even during winter! I was glad that we were given, and indeed took, the opportunity to highlight one of the jewels in our crown that is contributing to a continuation of ‘business as usual’ and minimising disruption for our patients through cancellations – the fantastic Lancashire Elective Centre at Burnley General Teaching Hospital. We were featured on BBC North West news last night (4 January) and you can take a look here (at 1:14). As ever, Damian Riley (medical director) was a picture of assurance and all the staff and patients featured were fab! Thanks to everyone involved.
I hope that most, if not all, readers know the high regard in which I hold all our staff. The most rewarding and effective part of my job is the work we do around staff engagement. It is so, so important to have a contented and satisfied workforce, which in turn has a massive impact on patient satisfaction. It is therefore very reassuring to know that our staff are proud of where they work and would recommend it to friends and family; staff feel valued by their managers; they are motivated at work; and there is good communication between senior managers and staff. These are just some examples of where ELHT scores in the top 20% of acute Trusts according to staff feedback. ELHT is also amongst the top performers in terms of staff experiencing bullying or harassment at work with particularly low numbers of incidences being reported. Whilst I am proud of our record here, however low the number, my view is it is not low enough. We do not tolerate such behaviour and I hope all staff know what to do if they experience it. Also, we have a Staff Guardian (we were the second Trust in the whole country to appoint to the role) who will help and support any member of staff with a concern.
Of course, staff health and wellbeing is a priority – our staff cannot look after patients if we do not look after them! Again, it is reassuring that ELHT is one of the best, having fewer employees reporting work-related stress as the reason for sickness absence.
Talking of staff health and wellbeing – 78% of our staff have been vaccinated against flu. Thanks to everyone involved in us reaching this. However, that means 22% of staff have not been vaccinated. If you are one of the 22%, please check our staff flu vaccination sessions on our intranet and get your jab. It could save a life.
Until next time…..
Best wishes, Kevin