Chief Executive Fortnightly Blog to NHS Orkney Staff - 24 June 2024

Message for All NHS Orkney Staff 

To Team Orkney

Last Thursday it was summer solstice – and the longest day of the year, marking the end of spring and the start of summer and representing a time of renewal, balance and growth.

While it may not feel that the summer weather has reached us here just yet, I hope you can all enjoy the summer months, including the annual leave that I know many of us will have booked so we can rest, reset and get the balance we all need.

Today’s blog will cover:

• Performance summary
• Congratulations to Anne Gregg
• Celebrating and recognising those to mark over 40 years’ service
• A reminder about this week’s all staff briefing

Our overall performance remains a very mixed picture, with further improvements and achieving some consistency remaining a focus for us all. I will share our latest Integrated Performance Report in my Friday update (which will be discussed at our Board meeting later this week) – and for now here is a brief summary of how we’re doing.

Our emergency access performance consistently remains above 90%, our 31 and 62-day cancer performance is at 100% (against the 95% standard) and our 18-week referral to treatment performance improved from 74.2% to 81.1%, March to April. We are on track in Months 1 and 2 against our Financial Plan. Our appraisal rate is at 32% (8% higher than December 2023) – however,  just 1 in 3 of us having had an appraisal isn’t good enough, recognising everyone deserves an appraisal so that clear objectives for the year and a discussion about personal development and learning opportunities with your manager can take place. I ask that every line manager re-doubles their efforts and ensures they prioritise appraisals for their teams and direct reports.

Our performance against the 12-week outpatient standard is at just 46% and remains unchanged and our inpatient waiting lists continue to grow, with 185 of the 303 patients on our waiting lists waiting over 12-weeks, representing an increase from March. Consistent with our Corporate Strategy, improving planned care performance remains a priority, with a new Planned Care Board, to be chaired by our Medical Director, being set up to give this the focus that is necessary so we can make improvements in this area for our patients.

Moving on – like many others, I was absolutely delighted that Anne Gregg, MacMillan Specialist Nurse, was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours last weekend for her three decades of service to the NHS and to healthcare services here in Orkney. Reading the many hundreds of comments online from members of our local community, show how respected and highly thought of Anne is, and how many lives she has touched for the better and this was just wonderful to see. I know from speaking to Anne personally last weekend when I extended my own congratulations, just how overwhelming this last few weeks have been for her – and I wanted Anne to know how very proud we are of her and this incredible personal achievement. We look forward to seeing more photos later in the year when Anne collects her MBE, which will be a memorable occasion for Anne and her family.

Early July, we look forward to celebrating and recognising members of Team Orkney who mark over 40 years and more service to the NHS and NHS Orkney with a special afternoon tea event for colleagues and their families/loved ones/closest colleagues. I very much look forward to this occasion and to spending time with these colleagues who have and continue to give so much to our patients and community, and who in doing so become the DNA of NHS Orkney and the NHS. More to follow on this early July.

Finally – my next all staff briefing, which will be attended by members of our Executive Team, is this Wednesday at 1.30pm (on Teams – and invites are in your calendars). Come and join us to hear the latest updates from across the organisation, to ask any questions you may have and to keep informed about latest developments. The briefing is for just 30 minutes and I hope to see you there.

Here’s to a great week Team Orkney. See you soon.

“Let the energy of the summer solstice help you to balance, release, recharge” (Unknown)

Best wishes

Laura Skaife-Knight

Chief Executive