NHS papers warn staff not to fall asleep in meetings

It’s included in Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group’s ‘meeting policy’, which was agreed by a meeting of the board last Thursday.

And for anyone who might be tempted to take a quick 40 winks when they should be listening to their colleagues, there’s further advice.

“If you feel you will not manage to stay awake, go for a walk just before the meeting and during the break,” it says.

The advice is included in the eight-page meetings policy, which sets out to make meetings more effective, increase productivity and maintain a good work-life balance.

The CCG says the policy about ‘feeling sleepy’ is to remind colleagues – who, they say, work long hours and who can be in meetings from early in the morning to the evening – to take breaks during the day.

“There are days when, particularly our board members and senior people, find themselves sitting in very lengthy meetings, in the same chair, in the same room, concentrating on important and often complex issues from early in the morning until the evening,” said a spokesperson for the Herts Valleys CCG following the meeting.

“Staff often work long hours  and the very short comment in the policy about feeling sleepy was  simply a nudge to colleagues  – to make sure they take breaks during the day.

“This is simply a question of sensible, routine management in a demanding environment.”

The CCG’s ‘meetings policy’ includes guidance on a range of issues that includes chairing, meetings etiquette and how to use time effectively.

The real reason for discouraging dozing off in meetings - as well as other unprofessional behaviour - might also be revealed.

The paper also includes plans to make video recordings of board meetings that could be available online.

The policy states: “Behaviours which are not in line with our values can sometimes be observed at our meetings.

“This can have undesirable consequences by impacting on individuals’ confidence, motivation and opportunities to be listened to.

“By making our meetings more effective we should be in a good position to increase productivity and maintain a good work-life balance, by making better use of our time.

“This will give us the valuable time we need to think strategically and deliver on our key objectives.”

Meanwhile the advice – which itself runs to eight pages – also recommends that meeting ‘papers’ are no longer than four.

It was noted at the meeting that some reports ‘rambled on and on’ and were unnecessarilly lengthy, but that in some cases they would need to be longer to include sufficient information.

Commenting on the overall advice in the policy, following the meeting, a spokesperson for the CCG said: “Our meetings policy contains a range of advice and guidance. This is all about what we can do to help this very busy organisation make the most of its time and resource.

“So it contains guidance about making sure written reports are concise and clear and also gives some tips about how to make our  meetings most effective, including people chairing meetings making sure everyone’s contribution is heard.”