h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This is a long one, make yourself a cuppa!

A while ago the whole of Pathology (which includes a number of laboratories around the hospital) was invited to a “time-out” meeting. It was a sort of team-building thing, and was kicked off by a talk from the Chief Executive of Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Phil Morley.

To say his talk went down rather badly would be an understatement. Apparently it was meant to be motivational. However, it came across as patronising and insulting. Most of us were left feeling very angry by some of the things he said. Those of you who follow me on Facebook may have been somewhat surprised by my reaction at the time – I don’t often use language like that! Fortunately he left straight after his speech. Had he been present at the coffee break soon after, I would very probably have said something I would later regret. In fourteen years of working in the lab, I have never felt as angry as I did then.

One bit stuck in my throat more than the rest. The local hospital trust has recently made a big deal about its new “Visions”. Mr Morley asked for a show of hands of those who knew them all – not many. In a very accusing voice, like a teacher telling off a child, he said “Those who don’t know them should be ashamed of yourselves! Where’ve you been? What have you been doing?”

Next day I was still fuming, and decided to answer this in person, so made an appointment to see him. The earliest slot I could get was a full month after, but this worked to my advantage, as I was able to write a “script” for myself, rather than going in unprepared, and just shooting my mouth off. Finally my time came, and despite my colleagues asking “When’s your leaving do?” I made my way to the Chief Executive’s office. I apologised for reading from a script, and explained that I was not very good at speaking out. This is what I read:


I’m a pathology support worker in Microbiology. I have been for 14 years. I’ve had a few jobs in my past, none of which I’ve wanted to stick at for more than a year, for a number of reasons; the conditions I worked in, or the people I worked with, for example. However, in Micro, I feel I am part of a team, and I enjoy working alongside my colleagues.

While I can’t honestly say I wake up every morning and think “Whoopee, it’s another day at work!” I also don’t get depressed at the thought – on the whole, it’s a nice place to be.

Last month I chose to go to the Time Out session. We were told it wasn’t compulsory, but I wanted to go – any opportunity to improve the workplace, and receive feedback from the questionnaire is worthy of my time.

Sadly, though, it left me feeling very angry, and disheartened. I missed much of what was said, as, to be honest, I found it very difficult to concentrate after something which was said near the beginning.

You asked for a show of hands from those who knew the Trust’s Visions. Probably about 10% put their hands up. I admit, I don’t know them.

You then told us “If you don’t know them, you should be ashamed of yourself!”

This was followed closely by “if you don’t know them, where have you been? What have you been doing?”

I’d like to answer that.

My scheduled hours are 8.30am to 5pm. In the two months prior to the Time Out, there were about 5 days on which I left at 5. Every other day I remained behind, to ensure that everything that had had come in late, due to the poor transport system, had been completed as necessary. Few samples on that delivery are classed as urgent, but I made sure that those that were got done. This often meant staying until 5.15, or 5.20, and at times 5.30. This has a knock on effect on my wife and children, as we believe strongly in having tea together as a family. However, it is my job, and I am willing to make sure it gets done properly, even if it means I’m late home.

That is what I have been doing.

In the time I’ve worked here, the workload has increased a great deal. As an example, when I started, we processed 40 to 50 MRSA swabs a day. Currently we process about 6 or 7 hundred. Overall, the staff levels have not increased significantly, and we are all finding ourselves working harder to compensate. If one of us has a lull in our samples, we head around the lab, to see if someone else needs a hand, which more often than not, they do. We work as a team.

That is what I have been doing.

When a sample arrives with a form that hasn’t been filled out correctly, the policy is to reject the sample, and get on with everything else. However, if I can make time, I will try to sort out the problem, usually with a call to a GP. This shows the Trust in a good light, as they see us trying to solve a problem, rather than just getting a “Not Tested” report a few days later. Ultimately, it means that a patient is getting the care they need, rather than getting a call from their doctor, which would probably be along the lines of “Oh, the lab’s messed up again, can you send in another sample”. So I’ve saved the face of the trust in the patient’s eyes, made us look more efficient in the GP’s eyes, and provided the patient with a better service – all for a little effort on my part.

That is what I’ve been doing.

Sometimes I *do* have a bit of spare time – I’ve completed all my samples, and the next delivery still hasn’t arrived. That is when I head for a computer, and read up on Q-Pulse. I’m not sure if you’re aware of the system, but whenever a laboratory document is published or revised, it is placed online, and we must read it, and acknowledge it. Sometimes a revision might be just one paragraph out of a 21 page document, but the system is unable to highlight the change, so we have to read the full document again. This takes time, but it is important, as it allows me to complete my job in an accurate and efficient manner.

That is what I have been doing.

For the past six months or so I have been studying for an NVQ in order to gain a qualification I need to further my career. I didn’t have the confidence to do anything like this, but have been hugely encouraged by the training officer at the lab, who has been a great help in getting me this placement. Much of the work I need to do requires access to the Trust network, so I am unable to do it at home. As such, my spare time at lunch has been taken up with my studies. It’s hard, but I’m having a go, and making myself a better worker in the process.

That is what I have been doing.

You also said “if you don’t want to be part of the top trust, I can find you a job behind a till in Tescos”. Perhaps what you should have said was “If you *DO* want to be part of the top trust, I’ll help you all I can”. If you’d stayed to listen to the meeting, you’d have seen that the overwhelming consensus was that we all *do* want to be able to do our jobs, to a high degree, but feel unable to, because of a lack of support, both financial and moral. The latter does seem to be slowly changing now, within the laboratory at least.

You asked us what sort of a car you thought Pathology was. Someone jokingly said “a 25year old Ford Fiesta”, which you were obviously unimpressed with.

You said you wanted us to be an Aston Martin.

I disagree.

Supercars like that are very pretty to look at, very fast, but ultimately not very useful. They cost far too much to run, are inefficient, and ultimately not particularly practical.

I see Pathology as a Ford Transit. Well used, overloaded, minimally serviced, but still struggling on, working hard. Even as more work gets piled on, we still keep going. Ford advertised the Transit as “The Backbone Of Britain” – well we’re the backbone of the Trust.

Incidentally, when someone fires up the ignition on an Aston Martin, the dashboard display flashes up the words “Power, Beauty, Soul”. Very nice words, but they make no difference to the actual performance of the car. In the same way, whether or not I know the five “I – words” of the Trust’s Vision, I still come to work, and carry out my job to the best of my ability, often doing that bit extra in order to make things run just that bit smoother. As a result, I *do* feel that I make a difference. I *am* proud of my work, I *am* proud of the team I work with, and yes, I *do* feel that I’m in the top 100.


Am I ashamed of myself?


No.


I just feel let down.


Once I'd read that out, we had a chat for about 15 minutes. He also ate the slice of cake I'd taken (He'd made the comment at the meeting "You're always welcome to come for a chat - bring cake, I like cake"), which Heather had baked.

I got a proper apology, which did sound genuine. He also listened to other problems I raised, the main ones being that both on an individual level, and as a lab, we don't feel listened to, and that the transport system which brings the samples to the labs from GPs' surgeries is getting steadily worse, which is resulting in a poor service from us. At one point he mentioned how he visited all the labs - I quickly pointed out that he visited all the labs except ours. He didn't turn up to see ours, and didn't even let us know he wasn't coming, which annoyed everyone.

He promised to look into what he could, and arranged to spend a full morning in the Microbiology lab, when I could give him a tour of the lab (gulp!).

I went back to the lab, and had to go through the meeting about ten times, as different people wanted to know how my meeting went - first of all wanting to know if I still had a job, after standing up to the boss of the local NHS! Those who aren't managent are impressed I've guilted him into spending a morning in the lab - I'm not entirely sure the lab manager was too keen on the idea, but we have at least got 3 months to make the lab look as tired and needy as we can!

The next day I received a phonecall from the head of Transport and Infrastructure, wanting to arrange a meeting with me to discuss the specimen transport system! Yikes! I pointed out that I am the lowest of the low in the lab, she'd be better speaking with the lab manager. No, says she, she was contacted by the Chief Executive, I was the one who raised the problem, they'd like to ask for my input, and want to arrange a meeting. I pointed out that if I went to a meeting and rearranged the transport service without discussing it with my boss, I might tread on the wrong toes! I gave her my boss' number, but said I was quite willing to sit in on any meeting. Sadly, my boss pointed out that as it is a problem affecting the whole of pathology (four different labs on the site), it was better being dealt with by the manager of the whole department, rather than just the one lab.

So, I've said my piece, spoken up, still have my job, and it seems that I may have made some difference. It takes a lot to get me riled, but when I do, I hit back right at the top!
Oh, and he asked me to tell Heather that the cake was delicious!

Oooh! Well done

Now, how are you with dealing with Comet - who don't understand Customer Relations at all


lil xx

Well done, you!! I really hope it will make a difference.

Well done, that man

I have close relatives who work in a hospital lab, so I understand every word.

You've done a very brave and noble thing, and you should be very proud of yourself. Before you do, though, you have to collect up all those worms you've let out of the can

Good luck with it!

Finally, you don't need it, but here's some reading material on vision statements: A38083494

Icy

Quality shows, man!

"I pointed out that I am the lowest of the low in the lab"

might be in lab work position BUT! NOT in stature bloody well done that YORKSHIREMAN - true to the highest standards of OUR creed

Isn't it Hull AND East Yorkshire?

Thanks for the support. I just felt so annoyed - it's the first time in fourteen years of working here that I felt like saying "you know, stuff it. I can't be bothered. I'll ring in sick, and blame it on stress, and spend the day on the playstation".
I think it was only the knowledge that if I stayed at home, Gina would find me plenty of jobs to do that made me go!
If I'd just gone in and moaned, nothing would happen, and if someone asked "What did you do about it?" all I could say was "nothing". At least this time, even if nothing does happen, I can say "I went to the boss!"

Eggzackelly!

Which bit - the "What did you do about it", or knowing Gina would find me a dozen jobs?

The 'What did you do about it' bit..

Because I *know* Gina would have found at LEAST a dozen jobs for you to do!

Well done indeed, Hoggy

Not bad for a man born on the wrong side of the Pennines

You can run, but you cannot hide from !!

*ducks under her Matt*

*stands tall and proud*






*behind lil (well, she's taller than me)*

Way to go Hoggy.
Reminds me of the time when I asked a former boss about a bonus.
His reply was, "Bonus? of course you can have a bonus, do your job well this week you get to come back next week"

I once told my boss, that they (the company) only paid me enough to come through the gate-office. The day they paid me right, I'll do some work

PLUS! the day I work hard, I'll look for another job