A Digital tech company has developed an innovative new dashboard to help NHS trusts to accurately predict workforce needs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Locum’s Nest, an app currently used by 30,000 clinicians, have been offering additional services to the NHS throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Two weeks ago the company, alongside Microsoft, were among the first to completely unlock its platform, giving the NHS free access to its tools.

They have now released a Covid-19 Workforce Intelligence Navigator (WIN), allowing NHS organisations to better predict workforce needs in the coming weeks and months, and enabling them to have the appropriate clinical cover already in place when required.

For the first time, Locums Nest are triangulating user data with government released Covid-19 cases across the UK, and publicly available ICU data, allowing the company to help NHS Trusts and hospitals manage their workforce more effectively by matching demand and supply – a critical need during a pandemic scenario.

NHS Trust across the UK will be able to anticipate the number of clinicians they will need and when they will need them. This will allow for much better planning, much better provision of services and, naturally, much better patient care.

Alongside the dashboard, the Locum’s Nest Digital Passport which is being used across the country has evolved to accommodate for CV-19 self-isolation reporting which will allow NHS organisations to better plan for the increased levels of sickness across the country. 

Co-founder Nicholas Andreou says, “As we understand it, no-one else is triangulating infection cases, shift vacancies and the supply of doctors; We think this is an intelligent use of data and allows for far better workforce planning.

“It’s clear that the virus emerges after 10-14 days incubation, and most Trusts now have an idea of percentages requiring ICU support; so, understanding the full picture of where you are now allows you to understand your need in 10-14 days time, which could be crucial as we try to save as many lives as possible.”