Doctor-led healthtech company Patchwork.Health and digital passports provider Truu have partnered to help the deployment of key NHS staff members during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The partnership will enable clinicians and support staff to be deployed to whichever NHS trust has the greatest need, without the lag-time of several days usually required for ID and qualification checks to be carried out.

Patchwork.Health’s digital platform, which is already being used by NHS trusts across the UK and has been made free for the duration of the pandemic, allows hospitals directly to source qualified healthcare professionals available to work to fill urgent shift vacancies.

Truu’s digital staff passports enable healthcare workers to accumulate credentials issued from their home hospitals which are then shared remotely and securely with new hospitals. Normally, the time to onboard at a new healthcare organisation can take up to two months.

The joint service is available to be rolled out completely to all NHS trusts who request it.

More than 3,500 Covid-related vacancies were posted on the Patchwork.Health network by NHS trusts in the last week alone.

Anas Nader, co-founder and chief executive of Patchwork.Health, said: “With the NHS now operating under unprecedented strain, it has never been more important for all players in the healthtech sector to pull together and redouble our efforts to tackle Covid-19. That’s why we’ve made access to our Covid-19 solution completely free for the duration of the crisis.

He added: “As a doctor, I understand the logistical complexities which can sometimes delay trained professionals from delivering life-saving care, and I believe that Patchwork.Health and Truu can together provide a solution for the NHS to enable rapid redeployment of clinicians to where the need is greatest.”

Manreet Nijjar, chief executive and co-founder of Truu, commented: “The Truu team are immensely proud to be joining forces with Patchwork.Health to provide an essential service to the NHS at this pivotal moment in a national emergency. Truu’s staff digital passport will enable NHS staff to seamlessly move between trusts and temporary hospitals and address staff shortages.”

He added: “Patchwork Health and Truu’s services and combined expertise will together accelerate seamless integration between NHS trusts – with life-saving impact