I’m an NHS manager

[Crunchyhobnob]

Not the most popular people in the NHS! What do you want to know about NHS management?

"With regards to IT... we’re getting there, BUT a lot of money has been wasted along the way. I do not understand why a team of software developers (and whoever else is needed) are not employed directly by the Department of Health to work with clinicians and managers to build the bespoke pieces of software we need for our unique and complex challenges. Why outsourcing this to companies who have no knowledge or understanding of how the health service and health economies all knit together has been the chosen path is beyond me."

It's funny, a particular area in Social Care has been screaming for IT program for years- after a lot of over and back we've narrowed down the lack of progress to the fact the union want in-house IT to develop it (despite the fact that we don't employ a single software developer) we would kill to be allowed to import/outsource a fit for purpose system but the general position seems to be, if we can't do it, noone can. So frustrating.

I do hope such narrow minded views may change with the leaps we've had to make due to Covid but I'll likely be disappointed again.

Why does the NHS hate flexible working so much? You're propped up by working mothers but the resistance to anything other than the status quo is painful. There won't be more women in senior leadership roles until this is addressed.

Why do we have to re-take irrelevant Moodle courses all the time, taking us away from patients?

@stuckinaloopie

Why do you guys not like doctors? Why do you smile at black doctors and once they turn around, roll your eyes at your fellow white colleague?

I very much like doctors, and generally feel the dislike is in the opposite direction! (Although less so these days but that might be due to my seniority now).

I have never once displayed the behaviour you are describing and if you have experienced this then I am very sorry that that happened. I hope you feel empowered to speak up about this kind of behaviour, does your Trust have a BAME network you could approach?

@TrixIrl

"With regards to IT... we’re getting there, BUT a lot of money has been wasted along the way. I do not understand why a team of software developers (and whoever else is needed) are not employed directly by the Department of Health to work with clinicians and managers to build the bespoke pieces of software we need for our unique and complex challenges. Why outsourcing this to companies who have no knowledge or understanding of how the health service and health economies all knit together has been the chosen path is beyond me."

It's funny, a particular area in Social Care has been screaming for IT program for years- after a lot of over and back we've narrowed down the lack of progress to the fact the union want in-house IT to develop it (despite the fact that we don't employ a single software developer) we would kill to be allowed to import/outsource a fit for purpose system but the general position seems to be, if we can't do it, noone can. So frustrating.

I do hope such narrow minded views may change with the leaps we've had to make due to Covid but I'll likely be disappointed again.

Oh God, IT! My community colleagues (AHP) still use paper notes. In 2021!

@StrugglingICUnurse

Are you worried about the post-pandemic effect on mental health of your staff?

Yes.

Lots of support is being put in, but yes, once this is all over I expect people will start to realise just what they have experienced.

@plus3

Hi how do you feel about all non-clinical staff working from home and still not being fully available to support clinical staff during COVID ie: suggesting that clinical staff take on various roles due to this lack of availability?

What are you doing to avert the inevitable mental health crisis that will engulf your clinical staff as a result of COVID?

How do you feel about insisting that all clinical staff suspend their A/L for January/February whilst maintaining that it is important that others within the Trust maintain good work life balance?

Thanks

I don’t think it should be a blanket policy of all non-clinical people working solely from home and all clinical people working solely from the hospital. This isn’t how it is where I work. Admin staff are generally on a rota, but a lot of that is also to do with the office spaces being teeny and therefore not covid safe if they are all in. Those who are at home have been provided with the technology needed to carry out their roles. If it is deemed that a service isn’t getting the required admin support then this is looked at and changed.

I’m sorry that it doesn’t sound like this has been happening at your Trust.

Work is underway to try to understand the inevitable impact. Staff are being consulted on what it is they think they may need.... but until we get there we may not know, and we will have to think on our feet. Is there anything you suggest? I’d be interested in your views in case it is something we have missed.

I personally feel it needs to be as equitable as possible, but there is no point in running the entire staff into the ground if it is at all possible to avoid this. There will also be the problem of everyone needing to take all their leave (not least to get a deserved break) when this is all over, so if some of that can have already been taken then it may reduce some of the burden. Once covid is over (and even now) we need to start getting back to some normality, and enable people with other health issues to get their treatment, and some of those staff who have been able to take leave in Jan and Feb may be able to start picking things up whilst the others rest.

It has been a horrible year and all I can say is thank you for being there, doing your thing and cancelling your leave in order to be there for people at their most vulnerable x

@TrixIrl

"With regards to IT... we’re getting there, BUT a lot of money has been wasted along the way. I do not understand why a team of software developers (and whoever else is needed) are not employed directly by the Department of Health to work with clinicians and managers to build the bespoke pieces of software we need for our unique and complex challenges. Why outsourcing this to companies who have no knowledge or understanding of how the health service and health economies all knit together has been the chosen path is beyond me."

It's funny, a particular area in Social Care has been screaming for IT program for years- after a lot of over and back we've narrowed down the lack of progress to the fact the union want in-house IT to develop it (despite the fact that we don't employ a single software developer) we would kill to be allowed to import/outsource a fit for purpose system but the general position seems to be, if we can't do it, noone can. So frustrating.

I do hope such narrow minded views may change with the leaps we've had to make due to Covid but I'll likely be disappointed again.

That’s really interesting.

Are the unions suggesting you use current people or employ those with the skills?

Having been on the receiving end of a few outsourced IT projects I am loathe to recommend them! Complex contracts which invariably benefit the supplier, and of course the need of the supplier to make a profit for the shareholders bumping up the cost!

How do you manage the burgeoning "us & them" feeling amongst patient-facing staff who are being run into to the ground for coming up to a year now, and those WFH. No one I work with begrudges those who have to stay at home, but in many cases they are not being replaced with redeployed or bank staff, so the rest of us are on our knees. We get the emails about wellbeing and having a bubbly bath, but what practical things are you doing in your Trust to ameliorate the impact on staff?

@DaveSpondoolix

Why does the NHS hate flexible working so much? You're propped up by working mothers but the resistance to anything other than the status quo is painful. There won't be more women in senior leadership roles until this is addressed.

Why do we have to re-take irrelevant Moodle courses all the time, taking us away from patients?

It depends on which job you are in and what kind of flexibility you are after. For example it wouldn’t be possible for nurses on a ward to start later than their colleagues as handover happens at a set time and you need someone there to look after the patients. However a set shift pattern should be possible so that you can arrange childcare/other aspects of your life. Another example would be if a receptionist asked to work 12-4 when the reception was closed between 12-1 and there were no other tasks for them to do during that hour, but a compromise might be able to be achieved.

I know plenty of people who have a set shift pattern, only work nights/weekends, work school hours only etc. BUT I also know plenty of managers who don’t like the hassle of dealing with flexible working and don’t understand the benefits of being able to keep hold of a valued member of staff.

I’m sorry you seem to fall into the second category. I’d happily try to advise a course of action if you thought it might be helpful.

(Sorry if I seem to be ranting at you, a stranger on the Internet...Not cool of me. You are cool however in calmly responding to everyone's questions, thank you )

@LadyGAgain

What is your opinion on the power granted to procurement to "save the NHS budget"? Surely the NHS should be looking at the cost to treat - from diagnosis to being well versus the cost of devices?

So much tax payers money is being wasted by this focus on 8% of the NHS budget.

What's your opinion on this and how should the NHS move beyond its current practice?

Bump

@DaveSpondoolix

How do you manage the burgeoning "us & them" feeling amongst patient-facing staff who are being run into to the ground for coming up to a year now, and those WFH. No one I work with begrudges those who have to stay at home, but in many cases they are not being replaced with redeployed or bank staff, so the rest of us are on our knees. We get the emails about wellbeing and having a bubbly bath, but what practical things are you doing in your Trust to ameliorate the impact on staff?

It is very difficult but we must reduce footfall within the hospitals to minimise the spread of infection.

We interestingly also have to look out for the mental health of those working solely from home as many of them are dealing with loneliness, isolation and changes to how they carry out their role. It shouldn’t be a race to the bottom of who has it worse, it isn’t a competition, everyone has their unique experiences and it’s important to remember that there are benefits to being able to leave your home to attend your place of work. I am not saying that to belittle how you are feeling, I’m just trying to implore that you don’t join the ‘them and us’ brigade and you continue to work as much as a cohesive team with all your colleagues as much as possible.

We work for the health service and are all generally people who want to care for others... we now more than ever need to care for each other, those that we work with and those that are part of the team in which we work. Don’t turn on those you feel have been treated differently, I can assure you that the decisions your senior team have made have solely been about getting through this pandemic in the best way they can, for all their staff, none of them will ever have done this before either.

With regards to not being replaced with bank staff, if your Trust is anything like mine the bank shifts will have been put out and pay rates been escalated as high as they can go, people are tired and burnt out and are just not picking up the shifts.

My Trust has a host of well-being things on offer and they have changed as time has gone on. We are now working on post covid support. Ideas are welcomed if you have any as I’m absolutely sure we won’t get it right for everyone.

Thank you, I needed that head wobble.

Sorry I missed the procurement question.

I don’t have an in-depth knowledge of the whole procurement process and the power you are talking about. I work with my colleagues in procurement and they have a skill set that I do not (mainly the knowledge of the law around procurement, how to negotiate with companies, contracts etc), so I’m sorry I don’t think I’m qualified to give a full answer.

The cost to treat however is a complex calculation as is dependent on many variables. It would be possible to get an average per procedure, and we do have access to that data. With regards to your question I think the problem comes when you have equipment and devices that need updating out of sync with other things in that ‘cost to treat’ pathway. However I’m really not the right person to be able to give a full and coherent response, sorry

@HotFloppyBread

Thank you, I needed that head wobble.

Have you name changed half way through?

Either way, you’re welcome! LOL. I didn’t want it to come across as a telling off, I hope I didn’t seem mean

Okay- my question is about me not you

I'm 43. Pre kids career in media which I hated. 10 years post kids experience in education, which I love. I would say my strengths are systems and people. I super engage with making stuff work for end user. My experience in education has shown me I need to feel my work is of immediate importance. I also work best in a fast paced environment - I just love the zone.

I've been eyeing up entry level NHS admin jobs for a while. Am I crazy? I feel ready for a change. Everyone always gets hysterical about how awful working for NHS is but you sound really positive.

@ItsLoisSangersFault

Okay- my question is about me not you

I'm 43. Pre kids career in media which I hated. 10 years post kids experience in education, which I love. I would say my strengths are systems and people. I super engage with making stuff work for end user. My experience in education has shown me I need to feel my work is of immediate importance. I also work best in a fast paced environment - I just love the zone.

I've been eyeing up entry level NHS admin jobs for a while. Am I crazy? I feel ready for a change. Everyone always gets hysterical about how awful working for NHS is but you sound really positive.

I absolutely love my job and couldn’t see myself doing anything else right now.

So therefore I say go for it!

There is a specific way to complete the NHS application forms, in order to maximise your chance of being shortlisted (particularly for entry level jobs that get a lot of applications), let me know if you think I can be of any help in pointing you in the right direction.

Are you in charge of Rotas?

Ha! NC fail! It's been a loooooonnnnggggg week on an understaffed covid ward

@Covidwedding123

Are you in charge of Rotas?

Rotas for which staff group?

I am not directly in charge of rotas these days but I am in charge of people who manage rotas, if that makes sense.

Hi Crunchy

Re: a pay query- I worked at band 6 level for 8 months before getting a promotion to band 7. I have now changed jobs again (8months later), and am going back down to a band 6 post.

All in the same field.

Should I be going back down to the bottom of b6? Or can I negotiate to start this new post at a higher increment in view of working at b7 for 8 months?

Thank you 😊

@opalescent

Is the new role a band 6 position? If so you should be paid at the top of 6. If it's a 7 role you should start at the same pay grade you left.

Hi Opalescent

All experience at or above band 6 should be taken into account, so from your post it looks as though you have 16 months of this.

Therefore at the very least you should be on spine point 22 (of band 6). The nice thing to do would be for them to set your increment date as the day you started this newest role and move you to point 23, but at the very least you should be on point 22 and your increment date set as 4 months prior to your most recent start date, to take into account that extra 4 months experience you have.

Does that make sense?

Oops sorry, name change fail!

Many thanks both 😊