North Staffordshire GP Federation asked us to help solve the problem of locum sessions not being filled (with clinics being cancelled as a result), and high agency fees.
Action
Our Digital Innovations Unit worked with the federation, Howbeck Healthcare Ltd and the South Cheshire and Vale Royal GP Alliance to create an app, ‘FindMeALocum’. Frontline general practice staff and locums were involved in its design and development.
Impact
FindMeALocum is helping practice managers in the area wanting to find high quality locums quickly, and also helping GPs wanting to work more flexibly. Practices have used the project to:
* retain clinicians on flexible terms
* help sustain primary care
* increase the medical workforce numbers in primary care
* attract new workforce to the area
* add skill mix, with standardised minimum expertise, within primary care.
Within the first eight months almost 100 GPs registered with the app, and approximately 1,400 vacancies were filled.