London, 24^th April 2012: Allocate Software has been working with two Health Boards in Scotland to assess the impact that Allocate’s HealthRoster e-rostering solution can deliver. A bespoke pilot programme has been carried out at NHS Dumfries and Galloway and an in-depth roster assessment has been conducted in NHS Grampian. Both organisations have recognised the significant efficiency and financial savings that could be achieved through adopting the innovative technology.

As today’s NHS tries to adapt to a radically different operating environment; with ongoing financial and the wider world changing fast. Two forward thinking Scottish Health Boards NHS Grampian and NHS Dumfries and Galloway decided to explore the operational benefits that could be achieved through e-rostering.

Talking of the reasons why they requested a roster assessment to be conducted by Allocate, Neil Buchanan, Efficiency and Productivity Manager, from NHS Grampian explains; “Following several local reviews of manual rosters we requested Allocate to undertake a roster analysis of a number of wards using HealthRoster.  The detailed results of the analysis identified and quantified the benefits that could be derived from Allocate’s solution.  In addition to the potential efficiency gains which corresponded to 0.8WTE per ward, NHS Grampian was impressed with the way that HealthRoster facilitated the most effective use of available manpower thereby ensuring the provision of quality and safe care to patients”. 

Chris Sanderson, Efficiency & Productivity Manager, from NHS Dumfries and Galloway adds; “We ran a pilot of Allocate’s approach which highlighted demonstrable benefits, and also identified how we could improve our rostering practices by replacing existing manual processes. Using HealthRoster’s KPI solution we could view and analyse all parts of the Board to see where and how we could make tangible savings by using our staff better. It also gave us the ability to view operations eight weeks into the future enabling us to take a highly proactive stance on workforce management for the first time.”

Paul Scandrett, Director of Healthcare sums up; “For any organisation looking to achieve productivity improvements through its workforce, HealthRoster enables a proactive approach to workforce management. Building on our success across the UK we have been able to share best practice, innovative approaches and the key capability to benchmark how well trusts are performing by staff group and across other trusts.”