BMA launches app to help hospital doctors manage workloads

A new app has been launched by the British Medical Association (BMA) in a bid to help hospital doctors better manage workloads and job planning.

Dr Diary enables consultants and specialty and associate specialist (SAS) doctors to record their work activity in a calendar.

The app then builds up a picture of how much doctors are working and turns it into a report. This can in turn be downloaded, shared or printed in preparation for job planning meetings.

The technology is said to cut the time doctors spend recording their activity, whether clinical care, teaching or professional development. It is hoped, therefore, that it will make it easier for doctors to prepare for job planning reviews.

The BMA claims Dr Diary also makes it easier for clinicians to negotiate changes to their work schedules, including pushing back against increasing workloads.

BMA consultants committee chair Dr Robert Harwood said: “I’m really excited to launch this new app built for doctors by doctors. I know that so many of our members will find it incredibly useful.

“Job planning is supposed to be a chance for doctors and employers to agree duties, responsibilities and objectives for the coming year, but our members have reported having negative experiences.

“Dr Diary will help level the playing field for consultants and SAS doctors and give them a sense of confidence ahead of the job planning process.”

In July 2018, health secretary Matt Hancock called for more use of apps within the NHS, saying they present “a real opportunity” for both patients and healthcare teams.