The Trust is working with Patchwork Health, a clinician-led tech provider, introducing a fully integrated rostering platform, a digital staff bank for flexible shift picking and an agency management tool to source qualified temporary staff when needed.

The rostering app supports around 1,250 medical staff, allowing them to view rotas and book shifts easily, while managers gain real-time visibility of all permanent and temporary staff to better manage workforce deployment and reduce unfilled shifts.

Since January, over 1,400 clinicians have joined the digital staff bank, which offers a marketplace-style platform for picking up extra hours across Trust sites.

The agency management system helps fill remaining shift gaps through approved agencies, balancing safe staffing with cost efficiency.

These tools build on the Trust’s existing job planning and appraisal software, recently integrated into Patchwork’s platform following their acquisition of developer L2P Enterprise.

Noella Rowton, associate director for Medical Workforce Strategic Development at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘Expanding our use of Patchwork’s tools reflects our commitment to supporting clinicians’ flexibility and reducing agency spend while maintaining safe services.’

Dr Anas Nader, CEO of Patchwork Health, and co-founder along with Dr Jing Oujang (pictured above), added: ‘Our solutions help improve staff wellbeing and retention, while enabling Trusts to manage increasing workforce pressures and costs effectively.’

The new digital workforce tools are now live across all medical and allied health professional staff groups at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.