Our preparations for potential EU Exit on Oct 31 have been well underway at CHFT for many weeks now – as they have across the NHS nationally.

Every Friday morning, representatives from all our divisions and key departments - as identified by the Department of Health (DHSC) - have been gathering for cross-site meetings to explore all the areas of potential concern for the NHS after Oct 31.

The aim is to ensure that CHFT and the NHS nationally is as well prepared as it can be for leaving the EU on October 31 (three weeks today) enabling us to keep disruption to the patient care we provide to a minimum.

The meeting – headed up by Chief Operating Officer Helen Barker and her team -  has been looking at a wide range of issues such as medicines supply, non-clinical supplies, data protection, supporting our workforce, fuel supplies  – everything which could potentially be affected and impact on us being able to deliver care for our patients.

Tomorrow, there is a table-top exercise at CRH with trust-wide representatives to put some of our advanced planning to the test.

Key EU Exit messages so far for us, are:

  • Ordering: In terms of supplies the message is very much carry on as normal and order as you would. The DHSC is clear that there should be no stock-piling to ensure everyone across the NHS continues to receive supplies. There have been some examples here at CHFT where over-ordering has been detected and in these situations the order will be stopped.

 

  • EU colleagues:  CHFT will support all EU colleagues to have the right settlement registration.  All managers are asked to support our EU colleagues in their teams so if you’re a manager please ensure you know who your EU nationals are and support them.  If you require support and assistance  then please email:  Ask.HR@cht.nhs.uk

 

  • Finances: If you are spending extra in preparation for EU Exit on Oct 31 then please inform Kirsty Archer and the finance teams who are compiling a spreadsheet of EU Exit-specific spend.