RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Rostering in a pandemic: Sustainability is key
JF Future Healthcare Journal
JO Future Healthc J
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP e54
OP e56
DO 10.7861/fhj.2020-0065
VO 7
IS 3
A1 Matthew Roycroft
A1 Neeraj B Bhala
A1 Susannah Brockbank
A1 Donal O'Donoghue
A1 Andrew Goddard
A1 Ajay M Verma
YR 2020
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/7/3/e54.abstract
AB In preparation for the peak of the first wave of COVID-19, many healthcare organisations implemented emergency rotas to ensure they were adequately staffed. These rotas – while addressing the acute issues – are in many cases not sustainable. As we move past the peak and services start resuming, many organisations need to reassess their rotas. There are considerable wellbeing benefits to optimal rostering. In this article we discuss how best to achieve this and suggest a number of key principles, including the following: involvement of staff affected by the rota; taking into account individual circumstances; building in flexibility and adequate time for rest; and designing rotas for different grades of staff together to create stable teams.