Allocate and Patchwork partner to increase NHS workforce efficiency

Two firms specialising in digital staffing rosters in the NHS have announced a partnership that will allow their workforce software to interoperate.

The companies said they will now integrate with Allocate’s HealthMedics rostering solution with Patchwork’s software to help healthcare providers staff their wards more effectively and efficiently.

The idea is to allow customers to access connected workforce management systems for doctors, and automate a wide range of recruitment and staffing tasks.

It is hoped that the changes will remove inefficiencies caused by double data entry and safeguard the quality of shift bookings.

Patchwork was founded by two NHS doctors, Dr Anas Nader and Dr Jing Ouyang, and launched in 2016 as a public-private partnership with Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust.

The system allowed the trust to increase the size of its staff bank by 500%, and allowed it to fill 90% of vacant shifts with its own staff.

This saving in agency spend and increased efficiency meant the trust saved £1.12 million in the first year using the system.

Allocate serves public and private sector institutions around the world with platforms that optimise the complex staffing requirements of large health and care organisations.

Alongside automating sophisticated scheduling and ensuring accurate pay for staff that have complex pay rules, it allows additional benefits to improve safety of staffing given changing patient needs.

It also helps manage contingent workforce and engagement of staff through a dedicated app.

Its Optima platform is already used to plan rosters of half a million staff across all workforce groups, including doctors, nurses, therapists, care staff, operational staff and administrators.

Allocate Software is headquartered in the United Kingdom, with over 500 employees, including over 190 in research, development and product management functions.

It provides services and support to its international customer base through regional offices in the UK, Sweden, France, Germany and Australia.