Real time app aiding Nottingham staff

The use of a mobile app that provides real-time information about staffing levels across Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has led to improved redeployment of nurses and reduced the use of agency workers at the organisation.

Having previously relied on manual collection of staffing information at key points in the day, the trust said that the introduction of the mobile phone application has led to improved patient care, with falls reduced by 25 per cent. Additionally, there have been 16 per cent fewer medication incidents recorded between August 2015 and September 2016.

This has led to savings of £60,000 over a three-month period in its stroke department due to fewer temporary nurses being used.

The technology is pre-programmed with planned staffing levels for every ward, with staff able to access and input accurate staffing numbers at the start of, and during, shifts to keep information up-to-date. This enables up-to-date reports to be created, including information about fill rates, skill mix and numbers of bank and agency staff.

Tony Till, stroke specialist nurse at Nottingham University Hospitals, said: “The safer staffing app has helped me, at a glance, review the skill mix on the ward.

“It has enabled me to make full use of the clinical and administrative staff to ensure patient safety, often without having to employ extra expensive bank or agency staff.

“This has improved team work on the ward by using all members of the multi-disciplinary and administrative team to help with the cohorting of falls risk patients. Consequently, safety in nearly all areas has improved.”