Shopping vouchers worth £150 could be yours if you switch to a new shifts app.

We have been chosen as one of only 15 trusts to pilot a new app giving colleagues smarter access to bank shifts using their phone or tablet, even allowing them to book shifts whilst on the move.

The new app is from Allocate, the company who run our current e-rostering software. It is called ‘Me’ as it is designed to give greater control making it easier to choose shifts and book in advance. And after the pilot has finished (around the end of this year), Me will replace Employee on Line.

The Me app lets colleagues view rosters, view and book bank shifts, swap shifts (with approval from managers) and manage annual leave. It will be available to download from the 6th August for all nursing, midwifery and care staff, with a plan to roll out to other staff groups after this.

Find out more about the app at one of our drop-in sessions next week:

• Monday 6th August 11.30am to 2.30pm – HRI Sub basement
• Tuesday 7th August 11.30am to 2.30pm – CRH outside Ingleton Falls Restaurant
• Wednesday 8th August 10.00am to 11.30am – HRI main entrance
• Wednesday 8th August 11.30am to 2.30pm – HRI Sub basement

And as an added incentive, colleagues who book and work a bank shift in August through the Me app will be automatically entered into a prize draw for the chance to win £150 high street vouchers.

Head of eRostering- nursing & midwifery services Rose Hagreen explained the aim of the pilot is to streamline processes and introduce new technologies for colleagues to review and plan their working patterns alongside increased flexibility for booking of bank shifts.

And Deputy Chief Nurse Lindsay Rudge said “‘We are really excited at CHFT to be able to offer this new app to support you to have much more flexibility and control in booking into shifts real time. We will be working closely with you to make this a success -  supporting you to manage your working lives and providing compassionate care to our patients."

The new Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, has already put significant emphasis on the use of apps in the NHS. He insists embracing new digital technology is important and has called for more apps to be deployed across the health service to support both patients and staff. He said they can help clinicians, doctors, nurses by making their lives easier, using the sort of technology that we use all the time and applying that to the NHS.

For more information on the Me app and details of how to download visit the eRoster intranet pages.