Staff briefing roundup

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

Rob Gerlis

Executive recruitment

West Essex and Hertfordshire STP recently been designated by NHS as an Integrated Care System (ICS)
Still not a body with legal entity; organisations within ICS are still sovereign entities
Three CCGs are working much closer together – in some aspects collaboration has been magnified by COVID-19 crisis
Dr Jane Halpin is the Joint Accountable Officer(AO) for ICS and ICS lead
We are in the process of sorting out a single management team – first stage was to have three executive posts
Joint AO, Director of Finance and Director of Nursing across the three CCGs
We should have Managing Director/lead of each CCG – agree autonomy within locality but accountable to AO Dr Jane Halpin
Recruitment for three executive posts are going ahead – interviews are next week
Post should be filled by the end of next week – more info at next staff briefing
Not a fixed timescale as to when next stage is going to happen
Will ensure everyone is kept up to date with any changes

We appear to be getting back on our feet as a country
Non-essential shops are now open
There is some degree of clarity on education sector
Next debate in government will be regarding the changing the 2m social distancing to 1m
Key issue around this is whether any of this will bring a second wave
Total number of beds occupied by COVID-19 in the East of England – 291
This compares to peak bed usage across East of England of 1400
39 ITU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients
East of England has had 11 new COVID-19 admissions in last 24 hours

Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH):

3 patients with oxygen therapy needs
No new COVID-19 admissions for 3 weeks , as at yesterday
50% occupancy
4 hour waitperformance is good
Pressure is coming out of the system
Will see how the relaxing of lockdown will have an impact on this
Heading towards good position nationally
CGG – beginning to operate normally
Governance up and running
Waiting for further national guidance regarding working from home
Preparing the CCG building for reintegration back into the office e.g social distancing markings, hand sanitisers etc.

Test and Trace is up and running
Numbers of those being tested at Stansted site has decreased
Increase in mobile testing and home delivery testing kits – these numbers have remained consistently the same
Mobile testing – approximately 250-300 people getting tested per week

Antibody testing

To be offered to all NHS staff including CCG staff members
PAH has offered testing to their staff
It is on a self-referral basis and not mandatory
Test will show whether you have positive, negative antibodies or if the test needs redoing
So far completed 1,000 tests of staff
Positivity rate is around 20-25% – doesn’t show herd immunity
Still need to stay alert to stay safe
Working on a booking system – staff to book as citizens not patients; hoping for solution by end of week
Open up testing once PAH staff have been done – around 29 June
Priority staff will be tested first g. frontline and community GPs and nurses
Mid to end July before actual booking is confirmed
Testing will be done at St Margaret’s to start with
We are looking at other locations across the area

Returning to the CCG

Working from home – following government guidance to continue working from home unless you cannot
Risk assessments have been carried out – this will available on AskHUE and our website
Will be launching individual risk assessments – to take into account all individual circumstances
Publishing easy read guide to working safely at work and home – ready by the end of the week on AskHUE
Any staff wishing to pick up monitors and chairs – Please inform us in advance via the Comms inbox and report your presence at reception with Jackie
Still waiting for permanent stock of hand sanitisers
Decluttering of offices – we will need to take some chairs out, clear desks and putting all personal stuff in pedestal

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New Time to Learn webinars designed especially for staff
Feedback from last course was very positive – we encourage you to book
All details will be on AskHUE