Ambulance UK October 2020

NEWSLINE
AMBULANCE UK - OCTOBER
Statement in
response to CQC
inspection report
Today’s Care Quality
Commission report is
clear that the Trust has
not addressed some longstanding
concerns around
culture, leadership and
governance. The Trust’s
executive team absolutely
recognise the seriousness
of the concerns raised by
the CQC, and have set out to
improve the organisation’s
culture, strengthen
safeguarding, and tackle
inappropriate behaviour, as
urgent priorities.
Since the inspection during June
and July this summer, the Trust
has:
• updated safeguarding policies;
now using new procedures
to record, manage and audit
concerns
• increased support and
mentoring for staff raising
concerns and clearer routes
for mental health support
identified;
• introduced more robust
complaints procedures to
ensure effective investigations
and lessons are learned
systematically.
During the next month the Trust
will:
• increase the visibility of the
Freedom to Speak Up Guardian
and encourage staff to speak
up
• introduce campaigns to
encourage positive cultural
change and behaviour
• survey all staff on their
experience of the Trust’s
culture including inappropriate
behaviour.
The Chair of the East of England
Ambulance Service, Nicola
Scrivings said:
“Today’s report calls out where
we need to improve and we will
now do everything possible, as
fast as possible, to make the
improvements required.
“We are working closely with the
CQC, NHS colleagues and other
partners to take action right now
to address these concerns and
put this right for the long-term.
“The trust aims to provide
outstanding quality of care and
performance for patients and be
an exceptional place to work,
volunteer and learn. In a message
to staff today, the executive
team has again reinforced its
commitment to listen to and
support anyone who raises
concerns.
“It is clear from the CQC staff
survey that the majority of staff
at the Trust are proud to work for
EEAST. The role of the leaders
is to make sure every member
of the team feels that pride, with
the support and culture they
deserve.”
SECAMB
Ambulance crews
return to improved
and modernised
Sheppey station
South East Coast Ambulance
Service (SECAmb) staff have
returned to Sheppey Ambulance
Station following a six-month
major refurbishment project.
The station modernisation forms
part of the Trust’s ongoing work
to convert all of its estate to its
Make Ready system – a vehicle
preparation system which sees
specialist teams of staff employed
to clean, restock and maintain
vehicles, meaning staff, who
previously undertook these tasks,
can spend more time treating
patients.
The improvement work at the
Main Road site in Queenborough
means the station now boasts
modern rest, educational and
training facilities including a
training room including named
in memory of Rhod Prosser, a
SECAmb paramedic who sadly
died following a battle with cancer
earlier this year.
Ambulance crews, who
temporarily began shifts in
Sittingbourne while the works
took place, and responded
from response posts including
Sheppey Fire Station, will now
start their shifts at the new base
before being posted to respond
from a number of Ambulance
Community Response Posts
across the region.
As part of wider improvements
in the area, and as announced
last month, ambulance crews
starting and ending their shifts
at Medway and Sittingbourne
ambulance stations will, instead,
start and finish at a new facility
in Gillingham, which expected to
become operational in 2022.
The new centre will house a
Make Ready Centre as well as
999 and 111 operations centres.
Sheppey vehicles will feed into
the Gillingham centre regularly
for restocking, cleaning and
maintenance.
SECAmb Operating Unit Manager
for Dartford and Medway, Will
Bellamy, said: “It’s been great to
welcome crews back to the muchimproved
station. Our staff, and in
turn our patients, will benefit from
this development which ensures
our site on the island is modern
and provides us with a building
and facilities which are fit for the
future.
“I would like to thank staff for their
patience while the work took place
and also Kent Fire and Rescue for
their continued support which has
included us using their premises
as a rest point for crews.”
SECAMB
Trust achieves
gold award for
commitment to
equality and diversity
South East Coast Ambulance
Service NHS Foundation Trust
(SECAmb) is pleased to have
achieved a gold award from
enei (Employers Network for
Equality and Inclusion).
The TIDE (Talent Inclusion and
Diversity Evaluation) gold award is
the third year in a row SECAmb has
been recognised by the organisation
following two silver awards.
SECAmb is the only ambulance
trust in a record 98 entries from
organisations from across 26
sectors. A total of 51 achieved an
award with SECAmb among 13
achieving the highly-coveted gold
award.
Other gold winners include IBM
UK ltd, the Ministry of Justice and
fellow NHS organisation, North East
London NHS Foundation Trust.
SECAmb will use the benchmark
report to implement further
improvements in how diversity
and inclusion is thoroughly
embedded throughout the
whole organisation and a part of
everything it does.
SECAmb Executive Director of
HR & Organisation Development,
Ali Mohammed said: “I’m really
pleased that our approach to
diversity and inclusion has once
again been recognised, this year
with an enei gold benchmark.
We know that we must do lots
more to ensure this is embedded
throughout the whole organisation
but it’s great to see our continued
progress recognised in this way.”
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For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com