Patchwork Drills Into the NHS Staffing Crunch
When the NHS starts feeling the pressure of a staffing hole deeper than an old sofa in a cramped kitchen, Patchwork steps in with a toolkit that’s both high‑tech and heartfelt. The London‑Manchester‑Liverpool trio of doctors turned entrepreneurs just scored an extra £3 million—in a round headed by Praetura Ventures, with a Doppler‑like beat from BMJ and some angel investors who believe in a healthier NHS.
How the Solution Works (and Why It Matters)
- Founded in 2016 by Anas Nader and Jing Ouyang (both passed the exam as junior doctors, but not the wellness exam), Patchwork was born to make the NHS’s hiring more cost‑effective and allow clinicians to snag shifts that fit their life, not the other way round.
- The 40‑plus‑year journey into NHS staff shortages saw triple quits between 2012‑2018, with £2.4 bn spent on agencies just to keep beds from becoming theoretical (check the math—one bed = one patient).
- Patchwork’s tech engine tosses the pricey middleman out of the equation: an NHS‑centric portal for Trusts + a user‑friendly app that lets clinicians book bereft shifts directly.
- Result: millions saved on agency fees, thousands of shifts booked, and clinics where hiring stays in-house—so you don’t need a commercial plug‑in to keep your ward steering wheel on a full‑time drive.
Numbers That Make an Impact
Over 10,000 clinicians across 30+ hospitals are already using Patchwork; 1 million shift hours signed up since launch. That’s a retiring one city worth of dentists, if you get my drift.
The Funding & Partnership Play
- Lead investors: Mark Lyons & Louise Chapman from Praetura Ventures (who now sit on the board as non‑executives).
- Patchwork gets a £1.9 million bet from Praetura’s £3 million round.
- Future plans: expand across England & Wales, roll‑out to GP and private practices, and super‑charge their proprietary software for every staff group in the NHS.
Quote‑Bait—All the Good Vibes
Anas Nader shares the “doctor‑on‑the‑frontline” honesty:
“We’re the ones who saw colleagues leaving the NHS for the sofa‑comfort of locum agencies. We built Patchwork for the NHS to keep wards safe and for clinicians to keep life balanced—no expensive middleman needed. Now, with Praetura on board, we’re even better at chopping agency costs and finding the perfect shift hours for modern doctors.” – Co‑founder, Patchwork
Mark Lyons chimes in:
“Staffing woes hit headlines faster than bad news about a bad horoscope. Anas and Jing’s team is proven to grind the problem down, plus we’re passionate about doing massive cost cuts while keeping patient care top notch.” – Praetura Ventures Director
Case Study Snap‑Shot
Cheeky Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust saw a 90% boost in direct shift bookings (versus 35% with the old system), saving them over £1.2 m/yr. That’s basically throwing cash into a safe with a good interest rate.
Why This Matters
For the NHS: less money pocketed by agencies, more efficient staffing, higher patient safety. For clinicians: a job that fits the daily grind, not the other way round. For investors: a story that speaks in concrete numbers and heart strings.
Sideloading: Where Next?
- Dr Fertility: a fertility tech firm also in Praetura’s fold.
- BMJ: early investor since 2018, championing the vision of an open, loyal NHS ecosystem.
So, if you want a responsible, high‑tech fix for the NHS staffing jam—or see a company that’s balancing clinical wisdom with business acumen—Patwork’s £3 million push is just the launchpad the system needs.
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