When Communication Became Critical: NEAS’s response to frontline disconnect
The Challenge
North East Ambulance (NEAS) employees are constantly moving across 3,200 square miles in 24hr shift patterns, and with a constant high-pressure workload they may sometimes only see their managers once a week.
In the face of increasingly hostile and isolated working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, NEAS sought a solution that prioritised keeping staff safe, connected and informed.
"Work Networks have been a genuine partner in this project - guiding teaching, mentoring and advising on how to launch and grow your own Workplace. In my 15 years’ working in the NHS I have not come across a supplier before who has genuinely had an equal stake in our success".
- Mark Cotton, Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement
The Solution
For the first time, CEO Helen Ray and NEAS leaders could respond conversationally to questions, challenges, grievances and needs from staff as they arose - revolutionising comms for staff and management alike.
NEAS rapidly accelerated staff vaccination by using Workplace to co-ordinate fast track access for ambulance crews to vaccine stocks at hospitals in the North East that would otherwise have gone out of date.
The Clinical group on Workplace gave frontline paramedics instant access to senior medical directors and peer expertise for instant feedback and issue resolution.
Outcomes
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300% increase in daily update readership
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58% rise in intranet page reviews
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6 national internal communications awards won in 2021
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