NHS temp workers to get shifts by SMS

NHS human resources managers may soon be able to text temporary staff on their books with details of their vacancies, thanks to a partnership announced between a staffing management software company and an SMS paging network.

Key IT Systems, which covers around 312 healthcare organisations, is to integrate a text messaging platform provided by PageOne into its staffing database software.

According to a spokesperson for PageOne, the existing software flags up any available workers within the organisation’s pool of temporary staff. Managers can then text appropriate people from an integrated interface within the system to let them know of vacancies.

Temporary staff will be able to text back to let their managers know of their availability. The system is also able to target specific groups of employees, such as various grades of medical staff or shift workers.

No information has yet been made available about text message charges for using the system, or in what format the upgrade to the software will take place.

Brian Fretwell, from Key IT Systems, said: "By integrating PageOne’s SMS messaging service with our software, communication between personnel managers and temporary staff will be greatly improved.

"PageOne’s services offer a robust means for managers to contact individuals or groups of shift workers in a quick and cost-effective manner."

Fretwell added: "The NHS as a whole spends approximately £1bn per year to meet its temporary staffing needs. Our services aim to help bring down these costs by reducing the need to use placement agencies to meet temporary staffing needs."

Alistair Wren, public sector sales manager at PageOne, said that the link was a good business move for the company, which already supplies messaging solutions to sections of the NHS. "This alliance will add further value to our portfolio of paging and messaging systems."