Organisational Change - Members Briefing 08/07/2011

Dear Member

We are writing this notice to give you some guidance on what to expect if you are involved in organisational change. More information can be found in the Trust "Management of Organisational Change" policy on the Trust intranet.

Background

We are in a time of constant change in the NHS and recently developments in the financial sector have led the funding to the NHS being held below inflation. This means we are being asked to improve our service but drive efficiencies.

This means that the Trust have developed a Cost Improvement Strategy which includes an A&E modernisation review, as well as other initiatives led by SWAST, which are explained in the Trust's "Reinvesting in Care" booklet, also available on the intranet. Please take the time to read this information as it will affect you.

Action

We want our members to know that we will support them when the going gets tough, so if you are an individual who is involved in organisational change then please contact a local rep or the branch for help as soon as possible. If you are a non-member please remember that you need to have 4 weeks of paid membership before you can access this help. Join online at www.swamb.com
All staff affected must be involved in consultations with management along with local unison representatives. If you are on a station which is looking at rota changes then please let us know if we are not already involved. In situations where the staff are in agreement with change and can design rotas which all staff agree with, then no action is necessary.
When staff and management cannot agree then we can help negotiate the best possible outcome and support you locally as well as at the Trust negotiating committee (JNCC).
Where there is a fundamental breakdown in negotiations, or a reduction in core front line resources, then members may wish for this to be brought to the attention of the local public they serve. Please contact the branch before doing this as we can help.
We must urge members not to contact the press directly but to use the branch to contact the Local Link networks, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, local councillors and MPs in their area. We have contacts and links which we can use to get the message across so please contact us first.
The Trust have committed to a fair, open and patient centred change process where you will be able to influence the final outcome. There may be times when a clear consensus cannot be reached and we ask our members to consider minority groups, such as relief, when they are designing rotas and making decisions on working patterns.
We will be able to help where we can but not without local representatives so please nominate a representative, if one is not already in place, and recruit non members as they will add weight to your voices and give you a stronger influence.
Change is a part of the NHS which we cannot ignore but we can have well researched and reasoned arguments to raise the profile of our hard working members and the vulnerable patients they serve.

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