Staff briefing roundup

Here’s a summary of what was covered in this week’s staff briefing…

Welcome – Peter Wightman

General update – Peter Wightman

• As we increasingly work more closely together with the Hertfordshire CCGs, we are going to start sharing more ICS staff updates
• On Thursday 16 December, there will be an ICS wide staff briefing. Our west Essex briefing on Tuesday will therefore not take place. However, do feel free to continue posting in the west Essex staff briefing chat if you have any questions or comments in between newsletters and briefings
• If you have any specific questions you’d like to raise on the ICS staff briefing, you can either type it into the chat on the day or if you would like to raise it anonymously, please email the Communications team to raise on your behalf
• Branding work for the new Herts and West Essex ICS is currently being worked on, which will be Healthier Future. Every ICS will be doing this and retiring the CCG label
• The urgent care position remains incredibly challenging, but it is encouraging the three hospitals are very good at supporting each other
• The COVID pressure is not that different in the hospitals but it is enough of an irritant to be affecting the flow

Vaccination update – Stephen Fry

• Most of the movement as you would expect, is in the booster work. This varies by category but 94 per cent of those eligible have taken up the booster so far while there has also been lots of second doses taken up and some first
• Figures are up for those with COVID but this position marries with the picture nationally. Deaths have come down for second week in a row
• No flu data due to a technical issue – back next week. There are rising cases but no impact on hospitals as yet
• Peter Wightman – the booster campaign and those objectives are back to that very high level of activity anticipated
• Vanessa Moon – those over 40 who had their second jab at least six months ago can currently get their booster. The three-month reduction has not been brought in yet but a lot of work is going into increasing capacity so when booking begins, the appointments are there
• Peter Wightman – work continues with the ICS NHS green plan which is seen as a key enabler of getting to net zero. There are big changes – for example changing the fleet of cars to electric and asking staff to look at what they can do and to consider carbon literacy. Procurement standards in future will be specifying the standards those who supply to the NHS will have to meet and virtual meetings where possible will also be the way forward
• The Essex wide mental health collaborative approach – we are getting more and more in step with Essex colleagues on this
• I have visited a number of practices, Nuffield House, Addison House, Church Langley and the Limes and had really constructive conversations with a “how can we help?” approach which has been very well received. We sent a response to the three MPs regarding primary care access and the primary care teams have tailored action plans
• Nuffield Health has really turned things around having needed support – thanks to Marion Jones and all the team in primary care with the support work you have given

Local update – Vanessa Moon

• A reminder to managers to review staff risk assessments by Friday 17 December. If there are any new staff please complete a new risk assessment and send via email to Agnes Annan by this deadline. Email Agnes or the Comms team if you have any other questions
• We are now looking at a date for a New Year quiz after the decision was sadly taken to postpone the Christmas edition. Please do take part in the poll in the staff briefing chat (you may need to scroll up to find it) asking which day of the week works best for you and we can then circulate some possible dates

Welcome to new starters – Peter Wightman

• Vanessa Moon – welcome to Patrick Dodge who has joined the Comms team from Herts Valleys CCG
• Ros French – a warm welcome to Joe Gillam, commissioning manager for young people and children who is covering Rachel Keene’s maternity leave. Rachel’s baby daughter Sylvie arrived on 2 November and both are doing very well and enjoying their time together

Questions/comments

• Jo Reay – when you come into the offices and use the meeting rooms, please make sure you close the windows. Two windows in the Cedar Room were left open all weekend, so just a reminder to check this before you leave