Real-time scheduling saves NHS cash

Coperforma, an NHS provider and long-term partner of Magenta Technology, has announced the results of its efforts in transforming NHS patient transportation services with its scheduling solution.

The solution was implemented and delivered by Magenta Technology two years ago and is currently used for managing non-emergency patient transport for five NHS hospitals.

It proved to be a useful tool in significantly bringing down the costs of patient transportation for the NHS, improving service for patients and managers of these hospitals, and brought considerable benefits for the environment by reducing excess mileage.

The solution is based on Magenta’s MaxOptra scheduling platform, which is successfully used in a variety of industries including haulier management for providers, real-time scheduling of courier and taxi services and some other areas of logistics.

Fully adapted for patient transportation, it is capable of dealing (automatically and manually) with the complexity of real-time allocation of patient bookings to the available fleet of speciality vehicles – taking into account patients’ preferences, types of booked journeys, vehicle specification and customer service levels under contracts with hospitals.

The system is capable of managing tens of thousands of patient journeys every day, and (where allowed) enables combining of several patient bookings on one vehicle, saving mileage, time and money.

The solution also features an easy-to-use online booking form for hospital staff and fleet management facilities.

Coperforma found that over the two years of working with Magenta’s solution, they were able to reduce the transportation costs of NHS hospitals they work with by as much as 29%.

Improved customer service levels, on-time journeys and improved efficiency of operation helped Coperforma achieve on average 16 times better patient satisfaction, and increase hospital staff satisfaction by as much as 95%.

Improved efficiency in vehicle management, consolidation of patient bookings on one vehicle where possible and effective communication with drivers also contributed to a 40% reduction of carbon emissions across hospitals where patient transportation is managed by Coperforma.

Michael Clayton, managing director of Coperforma, said: “Magenta’s MaxOptra dynamic scheduling engine is a core component of the patient centred scheduling system, an innovative software solution that we have developed with Magenta to transform hospital transport for our customers.”