Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has made the decision to implement new e-rostering technology from Patchwork Health in an effort to address staffing challenges.
This solution is expected to create more flexible and transparent schedules for staff, revolutionizing the organization of medics’ work schedules. Already, it has had a positive impact on staff well-being and reduced the reliance on agency staff.
With the new Patchwork Health e-rostering solution, the trust now has a centralized platform for roster-building and leave management activities. This enhanced visibility of the workforce allows for more dynamic and data-driven staffing decisions to be made in response to fluctuating service demand.
Managers are now able to view all permanent and non-permanent staff on a single roster, enabling them to deploy staff flexibly in alignment with service demand while also taking into account individual staff preferences. This provides increased flexibility and advance scheduling visibility for staff.
Furthermore, staff at the trust can now access their personal and team schedules and make annual leave requests through a connected app.
Since the implementation of the new system, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells has observed a positive impact on roster management, staff well-being, and a reduction in agency spend. Additionally, the trust has introduced a digital staff bank in collaboration with Patchwork Health to effectively manage temporary staffing needs and address roster gaps trust-wide.
Sean Biggs, chief operating officer of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, expressed the positive impact of the e-rostering system, emphasizing its role in reducing agency spend and improving cover in key clinical areas. Consistent support from the Patchwork team has ensured a smooth and effective implementation, with plans to expand the system’s benefits across additional departments.
The new platform, developed and delivered by Patchwork Health, has made significant strides in the NHS and has already saved trusts £80 million in staffing costs.
Dr. Anas Nader, CEO and co-founder of Patchwork Health, emphasized the importance of flexible, data-driven rostering in supporting employee well-being and ensuring sustainable staffing that can adapt to changing patient demand. The platform was designed to provide this flexibility while remaining user-friendly for clinicians and managers alike.
