Patchwork Health Raises £3.5M to Solve Hospital Staff Scheduling

Addressing Staffing Challenges in Healthcare with Technology

The widespread reliance on Excel spreadsheets for staff rostering persists, particularly within the healthcare sector. This is especially noticeable in today's hospital environments, which are facing increased strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent staff burnout resulting from inconsistent scheduling practices.

Patchwork Health Secures £3.5 Million Investment

Recognizing this critical need, two physicians initiated the development of a startup. Patchwork Health has successfully secured £3.5 million in funding from Praetura Ventures and BMJ New Ventures, the investment division of BMJ – a leading global provider of healthcare knowledge and publisher of The BMJ.

Platform Adoption and the Current NHS Landscape

Established in 2016 by NHS doctors Anas Nader and Jing Ouyang, the platform is currently utilized by over 70 NHS facilities to efficiently fill open shifts and provide staff with adaptable working arrangements.

This solution arrives at a crucial time, as the NHS is currently experiencing 90,000 vacancies. Furthermore, a significant proportion – one in five – of staff members are contemplating resignation due to stress and exhaustion.

How Patchwork Health Operates

Patchwork Health offers a replacement for traditional spreadsheets, utilizing a dashboard to forecast temporary staffing requirements.

Available shifts are communicated through a dedicated mobile application, allowing temporary staff to select opportunities that align with their availability.

The system streamlines essential processes, including credential verification, HR documentation, and payment administration. The startup asserts that it enables full-time healthcare professionals to have their scheduling preferences accommodated without compromising patient care due to staffing shortages.

Statements from Founders and Investors

Dr. Nader stated: “We are actively collaborating with over 70 NHS sites to address the fundamental causes of burnout, empower both full-time and temporary staff with greater flexibility, and establish more robust staffing structures for hospitals.

Our technology and services demonstrate that flexible work arrangements and consistently safe staffing levels can coexist.”

David Foreman, Managing Director at Praetura Ventures and a non-executive director of Patchwork, commented: “Our initial meeting with Anas and Jing immediately revealed their dedication to their venture.

Patchwork is actively contributing to the resolution of a critical staffing crisis within the NHS. They have achieved substantial progress over the past 18 months and possess the potential to enact transformative changes in how staff are managed within one of the world’s largest healthcare systems.”