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50% of NHS trusts are now benefiting from extensive savings made possible with software and services from the NHS Workforce Solutions consortium in preparation for NHS Reforms

Leading software providers Zircadian, SMART, and Software Europe – all core members of the NHS Workforce Solutions consortium – have reported 57 new NHS contract wins in 2010. Working together with 50 years of combined experience in the sector, the partners provide a comprehensive offering designed specifically for the NHS, helping trusts to increase efficiencies and manage staffing costs, while maintaining quality patient care standards. The solutions include rostering for doctors, nurses and other staff, time and attendance, staff bank management, payroll and interface to ESR and expenses management. 50% of NHS trusts are now benefiting from extensive savings made possible with software and services from the NHS Workforce Solutions Consortium. With this base from which to build, the NHS Workforce Solutions Consortium is confident that 2011 will bring a substantial increase in market share.

 

Zircadian, a leading supplier of software and services for hospital doctor management has secured 32 new contracts during 2010, of which 24 were for solutions from the Consultants Portal. NHS Highland in Scotland and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board in Wales, amongst many others, implemented Zircadian’s e-JobPlan software to manage consultants and middle grade doctor activities more effectively. Both trusts are the first in their regions to select the solution. Four trusts selected e-Leave, for leave management and/or e Appraisal to manage consultant appraisals. From its Junior Doctors Portal Zircadian has ten new customers for e-Roster, e-Rota, and e-Monitor. This brings the total amount of UK Trusts using eJobPlan to over 60 with over 140 trusts overall benefiting from Zircadian’s doctor management solutions.

 

As well as these contracts Zircadian provided its Bandings Appeals Services for three appeals, all of which were successful, including West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust which saved the trust £750,000.

 

Michael Sealy, Sales Manager at Zircadian said; “2010 was a challenging year for most commercial organisations to do business with the public sector; however Zircadian's solutions for the NHS have proven that investing to save is one of the better approaches to unlocking significant financial savings for this sector. Both Junior Doctors and Consultants’ time is an extremely valuable resource for trusts and one that must be managed very carefully, particularly in light of the NHS reforms. It is a critical balancing act to manage hours, costs and ensure patient safety. Zircadian's solutions focus on providing huge efficiency gains for trusts, and this has in large part contributed to an even better sales performance in 2010 than in the previous year.”

 

Sixteen trusts selected solutions from SMART during 2010 including Western Health and Social Care Trust who selected SMART to provide workforce management systems for its 3,000 nursing and midwifery staff. NHS Brent Community Services also chose SMART solutions to manage work rosters for its nursing staff, as part of the London Procurement Programme, the initiative that works with trusts to make the most of the purchasing power of the NHS in London. Great Western Hospital NHS Trust, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Northern Health & Social Care Trust, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Cwm Taf Health Board in Wales, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust and Hereford PCT NHS Trust are among those that also chose solutions from SMART.

 

Tristan Spencer, Health Market Director at SMART commented; “Trusts are now facing the challenge of reducing their expenditure while maintaining front line services and delivering top quality patient care. This can only be achieved by finding more efficient ways to work. By working as a partnership, SMART, Zircadian and Software Europe have over 50 years’ experience of working with the NHS. We can provide best of breed solutions that are fully compatible to help trusts to manage costs more efficiently when delivering frontline services, while still ensuring patient care and safety. Together we now work with 50% of the NHS organisations in the UK.”

 

Eleven trusts have selected Software Europe’s online expenses management software Expenses (NHS), amongst others these include Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust, Buckinghamshire NHS Hospitals Trust, Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust and East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust. One Trust reported an £80,000 saving on mileage within the first six months, whilst also streamlining the expenses processes limiting payroll involvement, combined with other department improvements saving a full time equivalent.

 

Neil Everatt, Managing Director at Software Europe said; “It is more important than ever for trusts to manage costs efficiently. Expenses(NHS) delivers real savings in reducing paper administration, complying with working legislation and providing ways to identify efficiencies. We now have 38 Trusts using our solution. By implementing innovative systems in this way, they are already preparing for the challenging times ahead.”