Urgent Care Summer Rota Survival Tips

You walk into work and the waiting room is full. Half of your team have requested leave for the same week, and the temperature outside just keeps climbing. Sound familiar?

Like most UTCs, this summer you might be juggling the mix of increased staff leave and increased demands.

Keep reading for our best tips on keeping your cool, or learn more about how Lantum's UTC Managed Service can give you hands-on support.

You’ve still got time before the peak of summer hits. Plan ahead now by asking your team to submit annual leave requests quickly, figuring out your temporary staffing requirements, and building a plan for onboarding new staff. 

Teams work hard all year round, but when the temperature rises and things get even busier, go a step further to keep morale up. Maybe it’s a shoutout in a team meeting. Or a note on the notice board. Or a reminder of resources that are there to help them. Either way, it always helps to recognise people doing their best.  

Connect with staff to make sure they aren’t feeling overwhelmed, overworked, or burnt out. Make a plan of action together if they’re at risk for any of these factors so you can care for each other while you care for patients. 

If they’re at risk, refer them to services that support the health and wellbeing of NHS staff including your local mental health and wellbeing hub. Use the self-check tool to find more resources and get the right help. 

Every year is different but look at patterns and trends for patient data, staff absences, and temporary staffing costs. It’ll give you a better idea of what’s coming and help you plan ahead for any bumps in the road. 

When everyone’s stretched, communication matters. Update staff quickly about any changes in the schedule or staffing and make sure they know how, when and why they should be contacting you.

Make sure patients are informed about any changes in service delivery. Let them know what channels you’re using to share information, and make sure they’re accessible to all members of your community. 

Don’t wait until the pressure’s on. Sorting out your temporary staffing now keeps things running smoothly later. And you don’t have to figure it out all by yourself. Our UTC Managed Service is like having another person on your team to help with:

• Recruiting temporary staff
• Organising onboarding
• Managing clinical governance
• Filling gaps in your rota

Make this summer smooth

You're the expert when it comes to your UTC, and know what works best for your staff and patients. 

Keeping these tips in mind can help cut down on your stress, and make sure your whole team is onboard. 

For extra support, learn more about how Lantum's UTC Managed Service provides hands-on support that fills rota gaps, recruits clinicians, and makes your life easier.