This follows a manic day yesterday by even my standards. I started the day by tripping as I put out my rubbish and turning my foot over. Owe I thought, but of course got on with the day. My first two meetings were luckily in the same building (also as it turned out in the same room).

I am for my sins, leading on KSF implementation. This stands for Knowledge and Skills framework, which is currently being implemented as a way of ensuring even in the NHS has the opportunity to achieve the knowledge and skills required for their individual job. This involves looking at individual posts using job descriptions and post holders in those jobs to produce an outline of the knowledge and skills required. If you really want to know more then you can find it here.

The meeting was with all the KSF leads within the health authority area, and I was pleased to note that we seem to be progressing well target wise both as a trust and health authority. I am getting worried though that this might turn out to be another one of those expensive white elephant’s of the NHS because it is just one thing our staff are expected to do along with everything else. And because this is just one thing to do as part of our already busy day jobs. Still a good meeting. Then on to Infection control for my absent boss.

I have to admit as a nurse out of practice and not managing clinical staff I had lost touch with this kind of stuff, but I am finding it good to get re-engaged with these important issues. There is a lot to do in educating our staff about infection control, hand washing etc and we are making some progress on it. I do wish though that the government and press weren’t quite so obsessed with MRSA as if it is the only thing to be worried about. It is an awful bug, which really does kill people, but there is more to it than nurses not washing their hands (but more of that later!)

Next and running late I prepared to dash to my next meeting. Only one problem, my foot and ankle had swollen and was pretty painful. I therefore hobbled to my car ringing a colleague on the way to start without me (I was chairing the meeting in the absence of the boss sunning herself in Antigua). This is where I made a fatal mistake which I am now regretting. I drove to the meeting when it would have been more sensible to head home (same distance, different direction. So I got to the meeting half an hour late, then stayed to talk though a teaching session we are doing in a couple of weeks. When I got up to go, I couldn’t……. I couldn’t put my foot to the ground, and certainly couldn’t have driven. Luckily a kind hearted colleague (well one of my staff) offered to run me home; not exactly on her way. We decided that the local hospital would be a better option to get me checked out. Part 2 of this saga follows shortly………..