Chief Executive Fortnightly Blog to NHS Orkney Staff – 30 June 2025
Message for All NHSO Staff
Morning All
First, thank you to those who have been in touch over the last week and for your kind words. It has been a week of many mixed emotions after a memorable few years. I remain absolutely focused during my remaining months in post on delivering against our Year 2 Corporate Strategy and the priorities we have agreed as a Board, and continuing to lead the organisation with optimism.
And talking of Board, last week was our latest Board meeting where we approved our Annual Report and Accounts for 2024/25 and our Final Plan for the Island Games, which is now just 12 days away.
I committed to continuing to keep you updated on progress against the action plan our Board agreed following the External Review into Culture, Governance and Senior Leadership that was shared with you all earlier this year. Last week an update paper went to the Board evidencing further progress against the highest priorities we agreed, including now having an approved Leadership Development Programme and an operational governance review and our engagement work to develop our new behavioural standards to underpin our organisational values now being well advanced. You can access my report and the updated action plan on the Board papers link here.
Today is the final day of Quarter 1 of 2024/25 – a full update on our Quarter 1 performance will follow in the next few weeks, where we will expand on our overall performance against what we said we would do.
As we await this update, there are two key areas where we need to immediately focus our attention:
- Mandatory training compliance – despite our significant and increased efforts and enhanced corporate support over the last few months, this has not translated into measurable improvements in performance across our main workforce challenges, including statutory and mandatory training compliance. Given this is about safety first and foremost, I will be meeting with our Extended Senior Leadership Team this week to discuss the different approach we will be taking and is now necessary so we see the improvements that are needed. This must be a top priority for all leaders in the organisation who have line management responsibilities
- Financial performance – after Month 2, we are slightly off track against our plan and need to recover this position quickly. We have overspent after Month 2 (April and May 2025 ) by just over £100,000, mainly due to our medical staffing costs increasing and agency nursing spend being higher than planned. We are discussing additional grip and control measures needed to recover the position so we can pull this back early in the year. Please continue to scrutinise and live within your means as budget holders
This week, I look forward to hosting this year’s Long Service Awards for our colleagues who are this year marking an incredible 40+ years’ service to the NHS and NHS Orkney and joining these colleagues and their friends and family members to mark the occasion. I know how much recognising Long Service means to you – and it means equally as much to me to recognise colleagues’ incredible contributions to the NHS.
Have a good week everyone.
Best wishes
Laura Skaife-Knight
Chief Executive