Work

Redesigning a General Surgery Foundation Doctor rota to improve shift equity, staffing levels, doctors’ pay, and patient care

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • Efficient rota design is key in preventing rota gaps, additional work hours, poor doctor rest, and compromised patient safety. • A new rota was created to improve staffing efficiency, doctors' working conditions, and patient care. • The rota can be used as a template by rota-coordinators across NHS Trusts. • Doctors should be encouraged to be actively involved with improving local rota design. Inefficient rota design is a key cause of rota gaps, additional work hours and poor rest among doctors. These are major factors in declining NHS doctor workforce retention rates and compromised patient care. Eighteen improvements were made to the Broomfield Hospital General Surgery Foundation Doctor rota to improve shift equity, staffing levels, doctors’ pay, and patient care. The rota can be used as a template by rota coordinators across NHS trusts. Doctors should be actively involved with improving local rota design.

Source: Future Healthcare Journal

DOI: 10.1016/j.fhj.2025.100253

Author: D. Atraszkiewicz

Institution: Broomfield Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Healthcare Systems and Challenges

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,000