Chief Executive Fortnightly Blog to NHS Orkney Staff – 5 February 2024

Posted on:

Image of CE for Staff Fortnightly Blog

Message for All NHS Orkney Staff 

Dear Team Orkney

I want to start with an honest reflection on the last few weeks. I feel a different vibe in the organisation and a sense of angst that I want to acknowledge. I have spoken to a number of colleagues as I have been out and about to understand the source of this and what has changed, other than our financial position, which I understand is cause for concern and is contributing to how many are feeling. Whilst we cannot ignore our financial challenge, I absolutely accept that we must balance what we talk about – spanning patient safety and quality, patient and staff experience and broader aspects of performance, and added to this – we must celebrate and recognise there are many positives and evidence of progress, midst our challenges.

Last week 60 leaders from across NHS Orkney came together as our Extended Senior Leadership Team to discuss our financial position and make a commitment to working together to lead our path to financial balance. There were some tough messages for us all to hear about the challenge that lies ahead, but we have to be honest with each other, face up to the challenge ahead of us and commit to working together to leading NHS Orkney forward, and this is exactly what we will do. We will get through this, we have plans to do so which we will share in the weeks to come, and I am determined that we use this opportunity as a lever to accelerate the positive changes we want to see for our patients, local community and Team Orkney. We will keep lines of communication open, keep you fully updated and want to hear your ideas for improvement and change – because you know your areas of work better than anyone else and as we respond to our financial challenge, at the heart of our decision-making will be ensuring there are no unintended consequences for patient safety, quality of staff wellbeing and you have my word on this. For each improvement scheme we develop we will quality impact assess, under the leadership of our Medical Director and Director of Nursing, Midwifery, AHPs and Chief Officer Acute.

Moving on, thank you to everyone who submitted nominations for our staff awards – our Team Orkney Awards. Meghan and I look forward to announcing the full list of nominees this coming Friday (9 February) and to hearing the many uplifting stories about the excellent care and services you deliver in the weeks and months to come as we move into the shortlist phase of the awards. More information to follow in due course about the next steps.

Linked to the above, in response to your feedback, we have launched a new value and recognition programme. In addition to our new staff awards, we are preparing to introduce Long Service Awards and recognising retirements from April onwards. We will share these plans with you in the weeks and months to come. For now, I want you to know we have listened and acted, and this is very much on track.

I am determined to create a culture here where you feel safe speaking up, knowing that you will be listened to and feedback acted upon. We know from our latest iMatter results that we have some way to go when it comes to building confidence in this space and we are committed to making the changes that are necessary. I also regularly hear from colleagues that you sometimes feel that speaking up and out will mean you may be treated differently or will suffer detriment and it’s really important to me that I understand how we can begin to change this. I know in part that this comes down to trust – and that building trust takes time. At the heart of how we do this is following through on what we say we are going to do, being open and honest and ensuring that when you speak up, you are treated fairly and there is no detriment. There are lots of ways in which you can raise concerns, including about patient safety. This includes speaking to and escalating concerns to your line manager, to our Whistleblowing Champion (Jason Taylor – one of our Non Executives), to one of our Confidential Contacts who will listen and signpost you as appropriate to support – you can find out more in the Whistleblowing space on the Blog, to our Executive Team or to me directly. Please know your concerns will be heard and acted on and treated in the strictest of confidence and as per your personal preference e.g.,anonymity.

Speaking of patient safety, I would like to welcome Kat Jenkin to the role of Head of Patient Safety, Quality and Risk. Kat starts in her new role today and will report directly to Anna, as our Medical Director. This new role brings quality, safety and risk together and will ensure Clinical Governance has a renewed focus and that further improving patient experience and safety remains firmly at the top of our agenda.

Have a good week Team Orkney.

“Hey, I know it’s Monday. But it’s also a new day and a new week. And in that lies a new opportunity for something special to happen.” — Michael Ely

Take care.

Laura Skaife-Knight

Chief Executive