#002 Wins in the Workplace: New computers and phones across the hospital – Dr Emma Runswick

Grievance/initial motivation

Our trust moved to electronic patient records in 2019. Computers on wheels (aka COWs) had always been in short supply on ward rounds. When COVID hit, our current set up of computers, phones and offices was completely insufficient - both because of the attempts at social distancing and because we were doing so much more by phone. Having working computers with phones next to them for ringing families was really important.

Research – what information did you have to find out to ensure that you had all the necessary facts and couldn’t be tripped up at any point? How did you go about finding this information?

I set up a Google document for individuals to add to whenever they had an IT/telephone issue which prevented them completing their work, or with an issue between staff, or a general grievance.

Target – as a result of your research, which individual, group, committee or organization did you identify as having the power to enact the change you wanted to see?

I raised the issue with the evidence on at the Local Negotiating Committee which is the meeting where BMA reps meet management.

Allies – who did you identify as potentially on your side?

Management - this was an issue which they were keen to solve in order to improve productivity.

Resources – what resources were available to help you win? This could include volunteers, online survey tools, social media skills, negotiation skills etc.

Google docs are free, but being an accredited representative and knowing how to write a briefing paper was crucial to raising these concerns to the right people.

Barriers – what were the main things in your way? This could include apathy amongst your supporters, push-back from your target or anything else that you found challenging.

Basically nil.

Strategy – Based on your research and an understanding of your target, allies, resources and barriers, what strategy did you then employ to win?

I put the issue, with evidence, on the agenda for the Local Negotiating Committee and presented the evidence we had collected from doctors at the Trust.

Outcome – what happened?

Prior to the meeting, the Medical Director put me in touch with the IT and facilities directors. Before the meeting even occurred, new chargers for the drug trolley laptops arrived on the wards and there was an audit of the batteries aimed at identifying those which needed to be returned/replaced by the supplier. Places for further phone lines have now been identified, limited new COWs are on order.

Evaluation

1. What went well? Everything - we even solved issues for some other groups (nurses with the drug trolley laptops!)

2. What went not so well? Using a Google document with unlimited inputs requires a lot of filtering to determine what issues are occurring where. However, this is a small price for getting such complete information.

3. What could be done differently next time? I wouldn't change what we did.

4. What could the BMA do to help support and replicate the success of this campaign in future in other locations? Train representatives to identify problems which are easy wins like this!

5. What advice would you give to other doctors wanting to do something similar? Listen to your colleagues and gather info, sometimes problems are easily solved if you make a case!

If you’d like to ask Emma any questions or are considering running a similar campaign in your own workplace, you can email her on erunswick@mybma.org.uk