Session recording
RECRUITMENT AND VACANCIES/HR
Q: When LUHFT becomes UHLG and the rest of the hospitals come under the same umbrella, does that mean the pay difference within the different trusts will be the same across the board? For example, Liverpool Heart and Chest security guards are paid as Band 3, but security guards in LUHFT are only paid as Band 2. Also, would temporary staffing remain in-house across all trusts, or would it all change over to NHS Professional?
A: In terms of the banding differences, as teams come together under the UHL Group, we will need to understand any difference in banding and also any difference in job descriptions. Where there is inconsistency, we will need to address this. However, this may mean that new job descriptions are needed for jobs within the group and they will be banded accordingly. In terms of the temporary staffing function, as there is a mix of in house services and Trusts using NHSP, we will carry out a full evaluation of both to determine how we will provide temporary services going forward, as part of our improvement work and coming together. As yet, this decision hasn't been made. (Heather)
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Q: As a nurse, I recently moved wards at Aintree and found that the sickness policy regarding bank shifts differs from my old ward. If I call in sick, my bank shifts are restricted for one week on my old ward, but on my new ward, they are restricted for two weeks. How can wards have different rules? Shouldn't all wards be equal?
A: Please contact jenny.
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Q: Are the recruitment restrictions at LUHFT also the same at LWH?
A: No, due to the different workforce and financial challenges both organisations face. However, there is work going on across LAASP (5 future group organisations) to agree consistent recruitment restrictions and we already share the same approach to appointing senior posts across the system. (Heather)
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Q: Is there an update on when the recruitment freeze will be lifted?
A: The recruitment restrictions will continue as we go into next year, although we are regularly reviewing the impact the restrictions are having on key areas, not least our corporate teams. We need to maintain our control over pay expenditure as we go into another difficult financial year, which will mean a continued pressure on us to restrict vacancies. (Heather)
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Q: Is there any update on the cost of living rise?
A: We haven't yet heard whether or not the recommended cost of living increase has been signed off by the Secretary of State. As soon as we know, we will communicate this.
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Q: Can you update on recruitment restrictions of admin staff please? Admin staff in the back offices are not coping, and only patient facing admin roles seem to be getting approval from the HLT. Staff are looking for jobs outside of UHLG or going off sick with the incredibly stressful workloads from being so understaffed and no promise of any change.
A: We recognise that our admin teams and corporate teams are suffering as a result of current vacancy restrictions. Any post that is held should be quality impact assessed and any risks to non-recruitment escalated. We realise it is tough and we need to look at what we stop doing as a result of lower staff numbers. For corporate teams, we need to bring together the Group trusts to alleviate some of the pressures, but realise this is not going to happen overnight. (Heather)
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Q: Regarding the band2/band 3 pay award, it's very disheartening for people already at the top of the band 3 scale, that they are not receiving any uplift the way colleagues elsewhere on the scale are going to receive.
A: Each band has an upper pay scale, which when reached they don't receive any further uplift. All staff should receive the national cost of living uplift. (Heather)
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Q: Vacancy restrictions at RLH/BGH are having a detrimental impact to staff mental health and wellbeing and feeling undervalued. We are not able to provide the appropriate service for patients and managers cannot do anything more for their staff as they too are facing immense pressure. Despite many escalations to HLTs and staff going off sick or leaving as a result it feels as though admin are not being listened to. It provides no hope that restrictions are going to be ongoing, and sadly we are going to lose even more members of staff. The future doesn't look bright for admin. And even if all vacancies are lifted soon, it will take at least six months to feel a difference for admin departments. What support can be offered to all staff, including managers as they are also feeling the pressure of feeling unheard.
A: I know this is difficult, but we need to prioritise workloads, focusing on patient impacting tasks first. We need to support people whilst at work and only ask of them what is physically possibly to achieve. We need to find different ways of doing things and sharing workloads within teams. We need to make sure people are given support to rest and have time off. We need to stop doing things in a controlled managed way. I wish it were different, but we are trying to unlock these restrictions as James describes as soon as we can. (Heather)
CAR PARKING/TRAVEL
Q: I have had several complaints about the car park in Broadgreen. When leaving with a blue badge, you now need to press the buzzer at the barrier and show your badge to the staff member in the office. Both staff and patients have stated that it is really difficult to get near the buzzer in your car and they are having to either try and lean out or physically get out of the car. Majority of people with a blue badge would have mobility issues and this seems unfair. Would it be possible to have a function at the machine you pay where you can enter blue badge details so that the ANPR scanner can read the reg on exit?
A: It’s a good question and if the ANPR scanner could do something on that, that would make it a lot easier. We will raise this to our Estates colleagues – James.
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Q: Can we work with Clatterbridge on the Royal site to look at a shared patient bus service - going from Paddington, Q-park and all three entrances. Their bus is disbanding from April.
A: Estates colleagues have confirmed that Clatterbridge are not stopping the service, and we are working with them to improve the service offering.
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Q: The NCP car park at the Royal – what support is there when the barrier won't open? They have removed the buzzer now so if it fails there are no options to seek help and this leads to having to pay in another public car park – also leads to queues!
A: I’m not aware of this, we will pick this up with NCP and find out why that buzzer has been removed. Thank you for raising this – James.
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Q: Do our staff parking payments also cover new sites such as LWH and Liverpool Heart and Chest?
A: We are looking at staff car parking and we’re looking to assimilate that gradually so everybody’s paying the same and so it’s fair – James.
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Q: Encouraged to use EV vehicles but must have blue badge to access the limited charge points at the RLH when BGH and AUH have multiple, will we be getting more charge points and have access without bays being blocked by other non EV vehicles?
A: There are limited charging points in the NCP and Paddington car parks. The Estates team are currently working on increasing the number of EV charging points in the NCP.
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Q: Good afternoon. Will it be possible to get a staff bus from LIP to any of the sites or at least the Royal? Only one Arriva bus runs past here and is always late. This will be useful especially in winter. Thank you.
A: There is currently a staff bus already in place between LIP and the Royal, and to Broadgreen.
GENERAL
Q: What is planned for bringing research together across all of the Trusts?
A: We are developing a single research and innovation strategy for the five Trusts. The first event has been held just to share existing good practice and this is being led by Lynn Greenhalgh from LWH who is leading this work. Please contact Lynn if you want to be involved: Lynn.
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Q: 23 April 2025 is Administrative Professionals Day - does the Trust have anything planned to recognise its vast and varied administrative and clerical workforce?
A: Yes, we will be celebrating this day – more details will be shred over the next few weeks.
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Q: So we put in a pound and can only win back 50p? As the other 50p goes where? To the Charity? The lottery organisers should report the spend.
A: Please email fundraising
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Q: 50% of the staff lottery goes to staff welfare?
A: 50% goes towards the charity (supporting staff welfare etc) and 50% goes towards prizes for those that have entered the lottery.
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Q: How does LUHFT plan to continue improving the reward and recognition work started in 2024 against the UHLG backdrop? Is there still momentum to continue improving the offer for staff?
A: Our OD Team is working closely with hospital leadership teams at each site to agree local plans around reward and recognition. Each site will be forming engagement groups with colleagues and the plans around reward and recognition will be one of the first topics to be discussed within these groups.
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Q: What is the plan for the old Royal site? I get questions from patients and staff asking but not sure what we are building if it’s even going to be ours?
A: Yes – firstly, to clarify the Royal site belongs to us, and over the next year to 18 months we will start to get better road networks in and out of the hospital. So from the Podium, down to Daulby Street will be done by the end of the year and then the next one will run through where the old Royal was to the bus stop on Prescot Street.
In terms of building on it, we are looking at a couple of things: one is the Academic Health Sciences Centre – that’s the University wanting to build a medical dental school and potentially reintroduce Dental Hospital accommodation as well. We then have the opportunity to look at bits of land for inward investment for people who might want to come and work with us on research and innovation, especially.
The other thing we’re looking at is multi-story carparking as we realise both patient and staff carparking is dreadful at the moment. This is all financially dependent and nothing has gone to Board yet, so more to come over the next month or two – James.
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Q: What are long term plans for Linda Mc Building? Lots of refurb downstairs for WIC but on other hand heard rumours it's going to be demolished.
A: The Linda Mc building – in the long term master plan – wouldn’t be there and it would be replaced over time. The plot where the Linda Mc currently is, would be the place where you would do future clinical expansion because that is the part of the site that can connect directly into the main chunk of the Royal building and access to Critical Care and access to the lifts and other floors. Just to note, there’s no plans right now for future clinical space so nothing is going to be demolished any time soon – James.
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Q: Is the Group considering stopping the use of certain social media apps? The Police have stopped using X due to the unreliability and inconsistency of their policies and practices. There are alternatives and we also have the website for news and updates. As a public organisation we have a responsibility to demonstrate our values and ensure our messages are clear and accurate.
A: It is something that we continue to take advice on from the national NHSE Communications Team. At present, the view is that X continues to be a platform that has a wide reach for patients and members of the public and therefore supports our effective communication with them. We will continue to review our position on this and will inform colleagues if it changes.
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Q: It would be good to see the Organisation offering flexibility to colleagues observing Ramadan, I can see it in the guidelines but genuine actions in supporting colleagues rather than policies that are not activated - i.e. varied start/ finishing times, WFH.
A: Where services allow and there is no patient detriment, we should be able to vary working hours to support people observing Ramadan. If you aren't feeling supported through the flexible working policy, please escalate up through your management structure or HR team on site.
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Q: Should we have to make requests for grants for charitable grants or money to support staff health and wellbeing? Shouldn't that be a priority for the Trust to address sickness absence, retention etc? Having to fill out a form or make a bid for positive health and wellbeing feels a bit odd.
A: Charitable funds is designed to support staff and wellbeing initiatives that are above and beyond what is already provided by the organisation. A grant process supports prioritisation of requests as the charity receives a large number of requests, far more than could be covered by the fund.
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Q: Please inform what actions would be taken against staff vaping in the hospital? Smoking outside is one thing but smoking inside, in the staff rooms, wards MDT rooms, toilets it is a real problem.
Q: It's raised every staff brief but patients and staff continue to smoke and vape right outside of entrances - often while leaning against the 'no smoking' sign! What more can be done to address this?
A: Smoking or vaping is not permitted in the hospital. If detected, then quitting support should be the first port of call to help the individual. If repeated then potential disciplinary action would be taken. Heather
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Q: Is there any plans for new IT equipment in the Lecture Theatre at the Royal. I've held numerous events there in recent months and I’ve faced problem after problem which can be embarrassing when I have new members of the Trust present and we have to skip certain parts of training. Any update would be much appreciated.
A: We will ask the Digital Team about this – please can you email Communications with more detail around what the specific problem is so it can be forwarded to IT – James.
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Q: Will room bookings be improved? As a clinical educator I am finding room bookings extremely difficult meaning we quite often do not have enough time to book a room and get the advertisements out there for colleagues to be able to have them factored into their off duties.
A: A new process for room bookings is being rolled out soon and additional communications will be shared.
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Q: When is the completion date for the new kitchen and what is going to happen to the current kitchen.
New kitchen at AUH is due for completion in summer. The space will be repurposed to provide a facilities service centre.