NHS Trust promises to listen to staff

Almost 1500 staff working for Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust which operates services based at the Rochdale Infirmary have responded to a survey as part of the ‘Listening into Action’ project which is aimed at improving staff morale.

Pennine Acute recently came in the bottom 20 per cent of NHS Trusts in England and Wales in the recent Staff Satisfaction Survey and have hired a company called Optimise to address some of the issues raised. It is planned to hold what it describes as ‘Big Conversations’ with a large number of selected staff during August as a follow-up to the survey.

The Trust has linked in with 9 other NHS organisations in the project, which will last for a year. Last month, figures show that Optimise received a payment of £70,000 from Pennine. It is hoped that the work being done will improve the working experience for its staff.

At yesterday’s Trust Board meeting, held at the Rochdale Infirmary, CEO John Saxby said that he was taking lead responsibility for the initiative and that a senior manager was being seconded to the project as well as two trade union representatives.

In an on-line questionnaire included as part of the project, staff are asked to score the following on a 1-5 ratio ranging from ‘not at all’ to ‘very much so’: 

1. I feel happy in my work.
2. I am involved in making changes introduced that affect my work area/team/department.
3. Senior managers encourage staff to suggest new ideas for improving service.
4. Day-to-day issues and frustrations that get in our way are quickly resolved.
5. This Trust communicates clearly with staff about what it is trying to achieve.
6. I believe we are providing the very best services to our patients and their families.
7. How satisfied are you with the extent to which the Trust values your work?
8. I am proud to work in this area/team/department.
9. I feel that I understand the connection between my role and the vision of the Trust.
10. Communication between senior management and staff is effective.

During the meeting, Chairman John Jesky said that he was surprised during his tours of wards and departments that some staff seemed not to be aware of the organisation’s direction and strategy. He later went on to describe how the Staff Awards ceremony held last month had gone from ‘strength to strength’ since their inception three years ago.

He said that he was well aware of, ‘the fantastic work going on in the Trust that stays below the surface.’ He went on to say how so many of the Trust’s staff were ‘modest about their achievements’ and cited the example of a Staff Nurse working in an operating theatre who possessed a PhD and also a porter who had delivered a baby in a hospital lift but declined to have his picture taken for publicity purposes.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/68031/low-staff-engagement-at-pennine-acute-trust

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/70285/jubilee-blues-for-pennine-acute-staff