Message from Richard Beeken, Chief Executive: Industrial Action 3 – 9 January

January 2, 2024

Colleagues,

I am writing to you on the eve of what will be the longest continuous stretch of industrial action in the history of the NHS. My message is new, but the sentiment is not – as we face what could be one of the most difficult periods in over 75 years of the NHS – I am asking you once again to dig deep to keep the wellbeing and safety of our patients at the forefront of your mind as we work together through the next long week.

I recognise the challenges that you have faced over the festive period, and I am aware of exhaustion in faces around me but also, I see too the fierce determination to do the right thing, to step up to where we can be of most use to others and to reach out to help those we see struggling. My executive team and I are determined to support you, support our patients, and we will never tire of saying thank you for all that you do to keep our patients safe and cared for.

And so, here we are again, in a situation not of our making, but one we must manage. Our planning concerns your welfare and what we can do to make shifts a little more comfortable for you. To this end we have implemented an extension of opening hours for our Costa coffee shops, serving hot and cold food and drinks. We hope that this small gesture brings some comfort and respite. Your wellbeing remains a top priority and we will continue to explore additional avenues of support.

Meanwhile communication is key to ensure patients understand how industrial action might impact our service, and our strategy has always been to reassure, to inform and to signpost. I would urge you to adopt this simple strategy in any conversation you have with patients, friends or your family when discussing using health services during the forthcoming action.

• Firstly, to reassure – our services are open, and we are still providing emergency care for those who need it. Please ensure this message is relayed to prevent any tragic misunderstandings.
• Secondly to inform – we want to advise patients that industrial action does not necessarily mean wholescale appointment cancellations. Where it is necessary to cancel appointments, we will contact patients directly. We acknowledge that the disruption to staffing will cause a significant reduction in elective activity and this may mean some appointments and procedures may need to be rescheduled. However, the most important point here is that if they don’t hear from us then they should still attend booked appointments.
• Thirdly to signpost – what this means is we let everyone know how to choose the service that best suits their need, and so significantly reduce waiting times for patients waiting to be seen in A&E when they could have been treated quicker at the GP, pharmacist, or Urgent Treatment Centre. Choosing services appropriately during industrial action helps ensure care is available to patients who need it most. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs, and only using 999 if it is a serious or life-threatening emergency. For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, visit the NHS UK website.

Additionally, I would like to reinforce the importance of early planning for hospital discharges. To streamline this process, please make good use of the Integrated Discharge Hub, available from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week. For any assistance, contact the team on extension 3147.

Please take care of yourselves and each other, and do not hesitate to reach out if you need support or assistance.