"Staffing"

Thank you for your post.

Staffing of late, has been a challenge for all, patients and staff. As you have documented below, I can see how engaged the staff and patient group are, working in unity, so the day can be utilised to its maximum.

2 full time staff have recently been transferred to the PICU (allocated in the last week), that will show up on rotas in the next month. So this should have a positive impact on the wards available staffing. The hospital management meets twice a day to look at the distribution of staff across the site. This is the fairest way we can ensure resources are distributed, taking into consideration last minute shortfalls such as sickness and absence.

There has also been consideration afforded to what incentives we can offer to retain staff and recruit others. Enhanced pay offers have been made and agreed with the patient facing staff groups. Additionally, there has been a significant recruitment drive, with many staff awaiting start dates and induction. Its hoped that the introduction of the new starters and improved retention will enable us to ensure that LTS patients will have all aspects of their care delivered as per plan, in full, without hesitation or delay. The influx of new staff will also allow us to map out and plan a return of TES to their regular roles. The TES staff have been an amazing support for the wards in recent months, I'm really appreciative of that.

I'm really sorry that you have had a negative experience in recent times. But I just want to know, and feel, that we are doing everything we can to address our current staffing shortfalls.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank you, fellow patients and staff, for supporting each other through these challenging times.