As part of Speak Up Week 2022, Bert Donald & Louise Ballantyne give us a quick overview of what whistleblowing is all about and how people can raise issues within NHS Grampian. 

More general information and resources on Speak Up Week are available at: https://www.nhsgrampian.org/speakupweek2022

As mentioned by Bert & Louise, there are a number of ways people can speak up. Often this can be through your line manager but, if you feel that isn't appropriate, a concern can be highlighted in confidence either via:
HR Hub:
t: 01224 552888
(8.30 am to 5 pm, Monday – Friday)
e: Gram.hr@nhs.scot
http://nhsgintranet.grampian.scot.nhs.uk/depts/OperationalHR/Pages/HRHub.aspx (Networked devices only)

Confidential contacts: 

The best way to raise a concern with one of the confidential contacts is via the short online confidential form, phone numbers or postal address listed towards the bottom of this web page: https://www.nhsgrampian.org/about-us/whistleblowing/
or by emailing gram.whistleblowing@nhs.scot 

Concerns can also be raised with a confidential contact:

Through a manager or member of staff who can support you to make contact with a confidential contact.
Through your University or College, who can contact the confidential contact on your behalf and protect your identity completely.
Through your Volunteer Co-ordinator, who can contact the confidential contact on your behalf and protect your identity completely.
* Please note the confidential contacts are available to support and offer advice to anyone working, supporting, volunteering, or undertaking training in any place providing NHS services in Grampian, regardless of their role or who they are employed by.

Speak Up Week 2022 - Whistleblowing Overview With Bert Donald & Louise Ballantyne

Heat, Water & Welfare: Ask Caroline Episode 20 

Big news this month as Caroline reveals urgent action to introduce more summer appropriate uniform changes (34:20) & the announcement of a limited trial of plumbed water dispensers for staff (02:08). 

There is also - finally - a firm update on staff gyms, which is less positive (04:14) & a commitment to update the NHSG dress policy as Caroline addresses another dozen of your questions in the 20th episode of "Ask Caroline", our Chief Executive staff Q&A. 

00:50 Update on Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Suggestion
02:08 Staff Plumbed Drinking Water Dispenser Trial Announcement
04:14 Staff Gyms Update & alternative solutions?*
06:15 Payroll Timeline for Retirees 
06:35 Covid Special Leave Position for Bank/Substantive colleagues**

June Questions: 
07:45 Treatment of the payroll team by other colleagues
12:33 Response to BMJ report on sexual assault levels in England?***
16:00 NHSG Covid Guidance Webpage Updates? **
17:45 Enforcement of smoking ban on NHSG sites?
19:44 Do NHSG have a staff pensions advisor?
22:45 Integration of NHS and HSCP IT
24:30 Will pool cars return?
25:38 What is happening with the culture survey for all staff groups?****
28:40 2c GP practices and impact of agenda for change salary increases on TUPI colleagues
34:20 Can we have a summer appropriate uniform?
37:45 Is the NHSG dress policy out of date and does it need to be reviewed? What about facial piercings and other items?

*If you are interested in joining the working group on exploring alternatives to the staff gyms please email gram.communications@nhs.scot in the first instance
** NHSG HR Covid Q&A (Updated June 2023 - Intranet link) https://www.nhsgrampian.org/work-with-us/hr-portal/hr-qas/
*** Since the recording, the Occupational Health, Safety & Wellbeing Committee have confirmed they will explore what can be done to further increase awareness and engagement. 
**** Update on outcomes and results of Culture Matters survey: https://nhsgintranet.grampian.scot.nhs.uk/depts/OperationalHR/Pages/CultureMatters.aspx

Upcoming Ask Caroline Sessions: (Questions to gram.communications@nhs.scot):

July - Thursday 29th 
August - Thursday 31st 
September - Thursday 21st 
October - Thursday 13th 
November - Thursday 10th 
December - Thursday 8th 
January 24 - Thursday 18th 
February 24 - Thursday 15th 
March 24 - Thursday 14th 

If you want to put your question to Caroline or give feedback email: gram.communications@nhs.scot (Please indicate if you would like your question to be anonymous).

Ask Caroline  Staff QA Episode 20

An Ask Caroline without Caroline?

This month, Employee Director Steven Lindsay puts your questions to Deputy Chief Executive Adam Coldwells who is filling in for Caroline who has had to take some time away due to a family issue. 

With a lot of topics covered, Adam seeks to reassure colleagues that NHS Grampian are looking at "all options" for car parking on the Foresterhill site, responds to criticism of the decision not to reopen staff gyms and addresses the importance of whistleblowing for NHS Grampian

As always, we know most people aren't able to watch the full video so specific questions/topics are time stamped below for ease of viewing:

1:54 Will we seek planning permission for staff use of the the Lady Helen Car Park?
5:23 Disabled Parking Bay Use By Able Staff
6:28 Any update on the unform changes Caroline mentioned?
8:11 Uniforms being worn in public
10:10 Should staff be paid for a standardised time period during a shift
12:27 Update on the 36 hour week agreed as part of agenda for change/Is NHS G considering a 30 hour week?
15:05 Board member and executive visibility
19:09 Responding to feedback on the decision not to reopen the staff gyms
23:25 Whistleblowing/ED Pressures
28:27 Waits for Laptops to allow working for home
30:50 Mandatory/statutory training gaps highlighted by trainee doctor strike?

The next session of Ask Caroline will be published in October. If you want to put your question to Caroline or give feedback email: gram.communications@nhs.scot (Please indicate if you would like your question to be anonymous).

Ask Caroline   Staff Q&A Episode 21

Today we are pleased to bring you the reintroduced staff Q&A with Adam Coldwells joining us for the his first session since becoming the interim NHS Grampian Chief Executive. 

Pressures across the system, bed numbers, diagnosis delays and rota policies are among the 13 questions Adam addresses in the today's Q&A. 

We received more than 30 questions in less than 48 hours so we were unable to address all of them on screen but we've tried to put as many as possible to Adam. Those that didn't receive an on screen answer will get a direct response via email shortly. 

As always, we appreciate most people like to dip into the questions that are of interest to them, so we have included time stamps below to each question to allow you to do so.  

00:45 30 Years at NHSG - Adam's background
01:50 Adam's priorities as Chief Executive
09:33 Will the shuttle buses return to their previous timetable on NHS Grampian sites?
12:24 Bed numbers, "corridor care" and the impact on ED
17:04 Will the finance for the extra beds promised in the bed base review be forthcoming?
20:21 Has there been a shift away from the formal disciplinary process in favour of early/informal resolution?
25:43 Diagnosis delays for neurodivergent people and ADHD and Autism in particular and the impact on healthcare staff
29:25 Longstanding temporary staff not converting to permanent staff after 4 years in breach of NHSG policy?
31:02 Why has there been no financial/managerial support to the discharge hub yet when our delayed discharges are causing so many problems?
32:53 Given the dire financial situation, would it not be more transparent to have a more stark message of us having to consider our service delivery levels to try and balance the books?
38:51Can the Aroma Café at ED entrance open 24 hours?  
41:07 Could families of healthcare staff be eligible under next years vaccination programme?
42:54 NHSG Rota systems, policy and no adequate time between shifts especially night and day shifts
46:03 Would it be possible for RACH on call staff to have dedicated parking in an area at the bottom of the shale car park?

If you'd like to ask Adam a question or provide feedback, send an email to gram.communications@nhs.scot (Please indicate if you would like your question to be anonymous).

Staff Q&A: Ask Adam Episode 1 Audio

NHS services for the half-million people who live in Grampian are provided by NHS Grampian, and are overseen by one single NHS Board. 

NHS Grampian

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