As part of October’s Speak Up Month, last week our Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, Carol Gregson met with her fellow guardians from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS).

Carol said: “It was interesting meeting with Samantha Bentley and Kirsty Holt from YAS. We spent time talking to our colleagues as well as YAS crew members on the Acute and Patient Transport side.

“What was overwhelming was our collaborative working, which was incredibly reassuring when we deal with the number of patients we do between us. We managed to promote the Freedom to Speak up service whilst listening too as this is the theme this year, hearing some of the issues staff experience in their respective areas here at CHFT and YAS.

“Our ambassador, Outpatient Matron, Rachel Roberts took it to a new level on Be Seen in Green Wednesday, when she came to work head to foot in green! It is wonderful to have an ambassador who is passionate and supportive. Along with Rachel at HRI we were supported by our Trust Chair Helen Hirst, Non-Executive Director Jo Wass, plus ambassador Zebi Deluce. They spoke to lots of staff about what Freedom to Speak Up is and how to go about it. Rachel even managed to highjack the paediatric mental health training in the nearby Lecture Theatre. Other thanks must go to Andrew Hardy who ably manned our stand at CRH.”

Don’t forget – our weekly drop-in session at HRI on a Tuesday 13:30 to 15:30, basement corridor near to staff changing rooms and Research Department. We will keep you posted as to when it is launched at CRH in November and check out the trust intranet Freedom to Speak Up - CHFT Intranet (cht.nhs.uk) for a wealth of information.