NHS deploys Rainbird’s Decision Intelligence technology to limit unnecessary self-isolation by staff

Rainbird partnered with the NHS, which used our rapid deployment programme to build an online, interactive tool that provides tailored advice on appropriate self-isolation measures to NHS staff. 

The tool, which was developed to address the staff resourcing challenges faced by the NHS, could be updated within minutes to reflect shifts in national guidance, and personalised to NHS organisations. This partnership followed an open letter from the Rainbird CEO offering its technology free of charge to those supporting vulnerable individuals during the pandemic.

The tool, which was used by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust (NNUH), helped hospital services to manage their staff resourcing challenges. It also provided appropriate next steps to those with COVID-19 symptoms by combining NHS and government guidance. The tool was also extended to give advice on which workers to test for COVID-19.

The tool required staff members to enter identification credentials, before being taken through a series of questions on the presence of symptoms and how long they and other members of their household had experienced them. Staff were instantly provided with a PDF document that could be presented to their supervisor and explains guidance created specifically for that member of staff.

A spokesperson for the trust said, “Unfortunately, there is still some confusion around how the guidelines on self-isolation apply to NHS workers, which could lead to preventable infection and added strain on our service by longer than needed isolation. This resource will remove that uncertainty and allow staff to inform their line manager they will be absent in one seamless process.”

James Duez, CEO of Rainbird, commented: “We are fully committed, at an individual and organisational level, to doing all we can to support those combatting this global outbreak. Especially our NHS. Our flexible technology can be quickly adapted to suit the nuanced and complex individual circumstances of NHS workers, effectively turning what would be a software development task to a clinical one and markedly streamlining operations.”

“Already, we are planning other forms of support, including a comprehensive risk assessment for staff, taking into account pre-existing conditions, their ability to wear PPE and other factors. We see immense potential for this tool, something reinforced by approaches Rainbird has had from other organisations seeking to push this technology to other countries, including those within Africa where the disease and preparedness is tracking some weeks behind the UK.”