Patchwork Health says it saved NHS GBP £250 million

Patchwork Health says it has saved the NHS £250 million in workforce costs through avoided agency spending and other staffing-related efficiencies across NHS organisations using its systems.

Founded in 2016 by NHS doctors Anas Nader and Jing Ouyang, Patchwork provides digital tools for rostering, staff banks, agency management and workforce data analysis. Its products are now used by more than 200 healthcare organisations in the UK, including nearly 60% of NHS trusts and health boards, and by more than 120,000 healthcare staff.

According to the company, the total includes more than £230 million in directly avoided spending on agency workers, as well as staff time and resource savings, lower administrative costs, and reduced technology outsourcing over a 10-year period.

Patchwork says its systems have helped fill more than 3 million hospital shifts. Its approach focuses on helping NHS organisations cover vacancies through internal staff banks and better roster planning before turning to external agencies.

The company was created after its founders encountered staffing problems in clinical practice, including late rota changes and limited flexibility for doctors and other staff. They left full-time clinical work to build a platform aimed at easing those pressures for frontline teams and managers.

Use of temporary agency staff has long been a cost issue for the health service, particularly as trusts try to maintain safe staffing levels while managing budgets. Digital systems that improve visibility of open shifts and available staff have become one way for trusts to reduce reliance on outside agencies.

Saira Shah, Chief People Officer at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said NHS organisations were under pressure to lower workforce costs while keeping services staffed. Her trust is among those cited as part of the wider shift towards new staffing tools.

"This is exactly the kind of story we should be celebrating in the NHS. Reducing workforce costs and cutting down on the use of third-party agencies is central to putting our health service on a more stable footing, and it's great to see trusts up and down the country taking an innovative approach to tackling challenges.

These savings are testament to what can be achieved when trusts, clinicians and innovators work together to design and implement solutions that work for everyone.

Patchwork's success over the last decade is proof that, with the right support in place, flexibility for clinicians and productivity for the NHS are not mutually exclusive," Shah said.

Product range

Patchwork began with a focus on temporary staffing but has since broadened its offering. Its software now includes a rostering platform based on staff preferences, digital staff banks that allow approved clinicians to take vacant shifts across trust sites, an agency management system for sourcing additional workers when internal options are unavailable, and a data portal that tracks staffing spending and workforce trends.

The company also expanded through acquisition with its 2024 purchase of L2P Enterprise. The deal added job planning and appraisal software and increased headcount to more than 100 full-time staff.

By integrating those functions, Patchwork says managers can align rosters and service plans with clinicians' agreed duties and objectives on one platform. The company argues that staffing systems, not just clinical technology, can directly affect NHS finances and staff retention.

Chief Executive Officer Anas Nader said the milestone reflected work carried out with NHS partners over the past decade. He linked the company's growth to continued concern about rigid staffing systems and their effect on working conditions.

"Jing and I are incredibly proud of the impact that Patchwork has had across the NHS so far. We've come a long way from those nights on the A&E ward, and reaching this milestone is a welcome opportunity to reflect on what we and our NHS colleagues have achieved over the last 10 years.

Our success is proof of the enormous positive impact that tailored, clinician-led technology can have in the NHS. While much of the focus is often on clinical tech, fixing rigid, outdated behind-the-scenes systems is just as important if we want to build a sustainable future for the NHS.

We couldn't have achieved this impact without constant support and collaboration from clinicians and leaders across the NHS, and we're grateful to our colleagues and partners for their continued commitment to improving working conditions, reducing workforce costs and building a staffing system that works for everyone. As we enter our next decade, we're excited to deepen this collaboration, working alongside the NHS to deliver fairer, more flexible working for clinicians and help the service overcome the immense challenges ahead," Nader said.

The company says the £250 million in reported savings would be enough to cover the annual salaries of almost 6,500 first-year resident doctors. It has recently added partnerships with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust as it continues to expand across the UK.