Dr. Anas Nader, Co-Founder and CEO of Patchwork Health (Credit: Patchwork Health)
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust have saved more than £565,000 since introducing digital workforce management tools in 2023.
Since launching an internal staff banking and registration solution powered by Patchwork Health technology, The trust has covered over 240,000 shift hours using its existing temporary staff, equivalent to the work of 98 full-time staff over the same period.
In the last 12 months, more than 17,500 shifts have been covered, which represents an increase of 37% compared to the previous year.
Steve Tricker, associate director of people operations at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, said: “We are delighted with the impact we have seen from our partnership with Patchwork over the last two years.
“As a trust, we are committed to giving our staff the support and flexibility they need to deliver world-class care, so it is fantastic to see these solutions bringing tangible improvements to doctors’ working lives.
“Given constant pressure to reduce labor spending across the NHS, the financial savings we have achieved since the introduction of the technology have been instrumental in supporting more sustainable and efficient service delivery.
“We are excited to continue this collaboration and build on the positive results seen so far.”
Registration and banking technology, developed by Patch Healthhas improved the way the trust addresses turnover gaps and temporary workforce needs, with almost 1,300 doctors joining the digital staff bank since its launch.
Management teams can access information, identify hotspots and advertise vacant shifts through the software and doctors can book annual leave, view shifts and secure additional shifts.
The trust’s registration data shows that 86% of substantial worker annual leave requests are submitted more than a week in advance, with more than two-thirds (67%) submitted at least seven weeks in advance.
Since implementing the solution, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells have been able to fill potential staffing gaps earlier, with banking shifts filled an average of 13 days in advance over the last 12 months, compared to six days in the previous year.
Dr Anas Nader, former emergency doctor and chief executive of Patchwork Health, said: “It is fantastic to see the work being done in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells coming to fruition.
“The results you have seen over the last two years are proof, if it were needed, that having flexible and sustainable staff in the healthcare sector is not a pipe dream.
“Supported by the right tools and data-driven insights, NHS trusts have consistently demonstrated that they have both the skills and the willpower to build a workforce management system that works for everyone.”
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells have also committed to implementing Patchwork Health’s medical workforce planning software, designed and developed by L2P.
Since Patchwork Health acquired L2P in November 2024, 17 healthcare organizations have adopted one or more of the company’s job planning, assessment or revalidation solutions.
