Our workforce is crucial to all that we do. We need to continue to look after our staff and develop them.

Their skills are on display inside the Trust every day and we are constantly looking for ways of sharing their expertise with the wider world. Gemma Norburn, who works in our mortuary, was interviewed by the London Evening Standard about the death cafes that she runs for us and in the community. And Louise Daniels, one of our consultant rheumatologists, spoke last week to BBC Radio Essex about gout and what to do if you have the condition.

We hope these articles and broadcasts inspire readers, listeners and our staff – both existing ones and those we may recruit in the future. My colleague, Kenye Karemo, is doing a lot of work on developing careers at the Trust. She’s written about some of it in a newsletter that I would recommend you read. It captures the stories of our staff and the life-changing experiences they’ve been through.

I am particularly proud of the fact that, at the height of the pandemic – when the future of their training was in doubt – we recruited more than 100 student nurses and gave them paid roles across our Trust.

Supporting parents

One of the many painful consequences of Covid-19 has been the restrictions on visiting we have had to enforce. They are in place to keep patients and staff safe and we keep them under review.

Their imposition has meant that teams have had to redouble their efforts to keep relatives informed. The restrictions have had a particular impact on our neonatal intensive care unit where parents’ access has been limited and other family members haven’t been able to attend.

Baljit Wilkhu and her colleagues have come up with ways of keeping families informed, including the creation of digital baby diaries.

Our stroke services

I’ve written here before about how they’ve been transformed. Just last week we conducted a successful thrombectomy on a patient who was transferred to us by air ambulance from Norfolk. And the improvements we’ve seen have meant we’ve been shortlisted for a national patient safety award. I am keeping everything crossed!

An inspiring read

As a regular reader of this newsletter, you will have sensed the pride I feel working alongside so many amazing individuals. As well as keeping you up to date with how we are living with Covid, I have also used this weekly message as a way of sharing our stories of achievements.

“In Conversation With” is one of the channels we use to learn more about colleagues. The most recent instalment features Maria Benedetti. She is our Lead Midwife for Multi-Ethnic Empowerment and she provides support for our BAME pregnant women.

I am sure you’ll agree that her interview is an inspiring read.

I hope you have a productive week and survive both the intense heat and the storms that are forecast to follow.

Best wishes.

Tony Chambers, Chief Executive​

From NEL Primary Care Commissioning Alliance

Third phase of Covid-19 response
As of 1 August, the NHS Emergency planning and preparedness incident level has moved from Level 4 (national command, control and coordination) to Level 3 (regional command, control and coordination with national oversight, as this remains an incident of international concern.

What this means for the NHS has been set out in a letter from NHS England Chief Executive, Sir Simon Stevens, and Chief Operating Officer, Amanda Pritchard. The letter sets out NHS priorities for this third phase:

• Accelerating the return to near-normal levels of non-Covid-19 health services, making full use of the capacity available in the ‘window of opportunity’ between now and winter.
• Preparation for winter demand pressures, alongside continuing vigilance in the light of further probable Covid-19 spikes locally and possibly nationally.
• Doing the above in a way that takes account of lessons learned during the first Covid-19 peak; locks in beneficial changes; and explicitly tackles fundamental challenges including: support for staff, and action on inequalities and prevention.

There are some demanding and ambitious targets such as:

• The restoration of full operation of all cancer services and the maximum elective activity possible between now and winter.
• General practice, community and optometry services should restore activity to usual levels where clinically appropriate, and reach out proactively to clinically vulnerable patients and those whose care may have been delayed.
• Rapid progress in addressing the backlog of childhood immunisations and cervical screening.
• All GP practices must offer face-to-face appointments.

We will continue to work across our system, with our partners in provider trusts and local authorities, and with our front line colleagues to meet these ambitions.
You can read the letter here: www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/07/Phase-3-letter-July-31-2020.pdf

Transforming commissioning in NEL
This week we shared our vision for how we will work in partnership across north east London to provide the best health and care possible for our local populations. The future of health and care for the people of North east London’ sets out our core overarching NEL vision as we continue to develop our NEL Integrated Care System and transform commissioning, ultimately establishing one single CCG for north east London by April 2021. We will be engaging with our GP members and stakeholders and will provide regular updates in this update, but if you have any questions or would like to provide any feedback please email 

Supporting patients
All our partners across the health and care system are working tirelessly to make the changes necessary to provide the full range of services to all patients during the Covid-19 emergency. Working within the framework set out by NHSE/I in Journey to a New Health and Care System, available here: www.eastlondonhcp.nhs.uk/downloads/ourplans/Coronavirus/Journey%20to%20a%20New%20Health%20and%20Care%20System.pdf
We are involving patients, patient representatives and stakeholders to understand how changes to services have affected people. We are also investigating what further changes we now need to make to ensure all our buildings and procedures are safe, and how we can provide confidence in our processes to anyone who has a need for health or care services. Unfortunately there are patients with potentially serious conditions who are reticent about coming forward to talk to their GP.

We recently received a report on the dialogue with Londoners which explored hopes, fears, concerns and expectations in relation to the measures being put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the NHS. You can find out more and read it here: www.onelondon.online/

There are dozens of other surveys which have been carried out across north east London and we are in the process of commissioning an analysis to ensure we understand the full picture. If you have conducted research into the affects of Covid-19 on health and care systems, please do send them to 

The Dr Will Zoom You Now

The Doctor Will Zoom You Now report sheds light on how virtual appointments can be rolled out safely and in a way that works for people. It is the result of a rapid, qualitative research study designed to understand the patient experience of remote and virtual consultations, led by the health and care charitable coalition National Voices. You can read the insight report here: www.nationalvoices.org.uk/publications/our-publications/dr-will-zoom-you-now-getting-most-out-virtual-health-and-care

Wearing face masks
From Saturday 8 August the places where you will have to wear a face covering will be expanded to include museums, galleries, places of worship, libraries, and community centres, among other locations. Face coverings are also needed in NHS settings, including hospitals and primary or community care settings, such as GP surgeries.

More details are available here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

Exemptions from wearing face masks
Those who have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering should not be routinely asked to give any written evidence of this. No person needs to seek advice or request a letter from a GP or medical professional about their reason for not wearing a face covering and GPs do not provide exemptions.

Some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. This is a personal choice and is not necessary in law. Templates are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

Social distancing cards
You can also download templates for ‘Please give me space’ social distancing cards or badges that can be used to show someone may have difficulties or concerns in maintaining social distancing. These are available here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/please-give-me-space-social-distancing-cards-or-badges?utm_source=da36f801-bf3d-43d3-a88e-58a2734c582d&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

Shielding changes
From 1 August, shielding advice to those who have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable has been relaxed and the national shielding programme is being paused. The Shielded Patient List (SPL) will still be maintained while the shielding programme is paused, as the government may advise people to shield again if there is an increase in transmission of coronavirus in the community. Clinicians will continue to identify people who may be considered clinically extremely vulnerable based on the existing criteria and add them to the SPL.

Measures are being put in place to support safe service restoration and provide environments where the risk of infection is managed for all patients. We recognise that people who have been shielding may be particularly anxious about attending health settings, and we are taking this into account when planning care and encouraging people to visit NHS sites.

More detailed information is available here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19