Trust Chair Report

Meeting:

Public Board

Date:

15.03.2023

Report Title:

Trust Chair Report

Agenda Item:

PUB22/3/86

Author:

Nicola Scrivings, Trust Chair

Lead Director:

Nicola Scrivings, Trust Chair 

X

SR1b: If we do not ensure our leaders are developed and equipped, there is a risk that we will not be able to change our culture, and value, support, develop and grow our people

X 

SR2: If we do not deliver operational and clinical standards then there is a risk of poor patient outcomes and experience

X 

SR3: If we do not ensure we have the ability to plan, influence and deliver across our systems to secure change, we will not be able to meet the needs of our public and communities

X 

SR4: If we do not resolve long standing organisational inefficiencies we will be unable to deliver an effective, sustainable, value for money service to our public

X 

SR6: If we do not deliver sustainable regulatory compliance and develop positive relationships, we will have limited ability to deliver our strategy

Equality Impact Assessment

No negative impact identified

X

Recommendation:

The Trust Board is asked to note the contents of the report

Previously considered by:

N/A

Purpose

To update the Public and the Board on Chair and Non-Executive Director activity since the last Public Board meeting in January 2023

Executive Summary

Paper identifies

• Key organisational issues arising from Board oversight this period.
• Non-Executive Director additional activities providing wider assurance and Board visibility.
• Chair key activities since the last Board in January

My last report in January focussed upon the concerns that the Board had in terms of the Regional Systems’ response to make progress on reducing hospital handover delays and the consequential impact upon the overall patient experience. December had been a particularly challenging period. As reported at the time the Trust continued work with partners establishing system improvements, and these, along with a welcome small reduction in patient contact, has led to improved performance, although there is further to go to hit the standards we expect.  Papers later in the meeting will give more detail.

Whilst it is reassuring that the impact upon patients was slightly eased this period, the Board is focussed upon change for long-lasting effect, which will be embedded by delivering the ambition of the Clinical Strategy which was shared at the last meeting.

As always, I thank our colleagues who continue to provide compassionate care to those patients in the most difficult times and reaffirm our commitment to EEAST being a great place to work. During the last months we have reviewed the development of several strands of activity of what this means for us and our plans for developing and supporting staff.

During this period the Trust was informed by GMB and Unison that following a ballot of its members that there would be strike action commencing in March, with the second date ( 8^th March) occurring on the original published date for this Public Board, which is the reason for the change to today, 15^th March. Any further information will be shared in the CEO report.

Aside from the normal business of Board oversight, I have spent time in the last period with system leaders, in particular holding meetings with the ICS Independent Chairs. The primary purpose has been to develop understanding of each other’s priorities, discuss  opportunities for strengthening relationships within systems, and identify further opportunities that will support improvements in the Urgent and Emergency Care pathways.

The Board also gains assurance for progress against our goals and plans through spending  time with people, both in operational settings and our corporate teams,  hearing first-hand about the impact of any changes and current pressures. Since the beginning of January Non-Executive Director Colleagues have. 

Julie Thallon visited Waveney station and spent an afternoon at Norwich EOC, both of which she found really interesting and supportive of her role as Chair of the Performance and Finance Committee

Neville Hounsome visited Bury St Edmunds station to experience an IPC Audit. Neville is Chair of the Quality Governance Committee, so this provided an additional layer of assurance on the Trust approach and compliance. In addition to Norfolk and Waveney system engagement he also supported the Trust in Well-being research and internal interviews.

My main activities were: