Ashford and St Peter’s Choose RLDatix for Electronic Rostering Solution

Key Takeaways

Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has chosen RLDatix to implement the Allocate Optima electronic rostering platform, enhancing workforce management.
The platform includes SafeCare for staffing alignment to patient needs and Loop for improved staff engagement and communication.
Implementation is expected to be completed by August 2026, aiming for safer staffing and reduced reliance on temporary staff.

Enhanced Workforce Management at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals

Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has appointed RLDatix to introduce its electronic rostering platform, Allocate Optima, for all Agenda for Change staff, who represent most of the trust’s workforce. This strategic move aims to streamline staff management and improve patient care.

The Allocate Optima platform will specifically incorporate two key tools: SafeCare and Loop. SafeCare is designed to ensure that staffing levels are responsive to patient needs, while Loop serves as a staff engagement and communication application, allowing employees to view rosters and manage shifts more effectively. Integrating these systems will provide a cohesive approach to rostering, staffing insight, and employee engagement.

Jo Fanning, the chief people officer at the Trust, emphasized the significance of this investment, stating it demonstrates a commitment to supporting Agenda for Change staff while enhancing patient care quality. Fanning noted that staff feedback on previous systems has been positive, reinforcing the expectation that Allocate Optima will improve both employee well-being and resource allocation.

Ashford and St Peter’s has a history of being an early adopter of electronic rostering solutions within the NHS. After four years with a different supplier, the trust decided to revert to Allocate Optima, building on its earlier experiences to better meet current and future workforce needs.

The trust has outlined several anticipated benefits from this platform’s deployment, including safer staffing in alignment with patient acuity, improved workforce deployment strategies, enhanced staff redeployment methods, and decreased reliance on temporary staffing. Additionally, the system is expected to contribute significantly to a broader digital transformation initiative by implementing data-driven workforce management, which will reduce dependence on outdated manual processes.

The roll-out of Allocate Optima is currently in progress and is slated for completion by August 2026. Paul Sanders, president of RLDatix for the UK and Ireland, expressed pride in supporting Ashford and St Peter’s in enhancing workforce planning and deployment. Integrating rostering capabilities with acuity-based staffing and engagement tools on a single platform is considered crucial for improving real-time visibility of staffing demand.

Sanders highlighted that this centralized approach is vital for decreasing reliance on temporary staff, fostering employee well-being, and ultimately delivering safer care to patients. The collaborative efforts signal a strong commitment by Ashford and St Peter’s to elevate both staff experience and patient outcomes moving forward.

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