Case Study: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust improves surgical care continuity with NHS Employers

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation - Customer Case Study

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust worked with NHS Employers to address an impending shortage of junior doctors in its orthopaedics department, which threatened the on-call rota and overall service quality. The trust needed an alternative to increasing costly locum use while still maintaining high standards of patient care.

NHS Employers supported the trust in developing and expanding its Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP) model, including recruitment, training, and a wider scope of practice for SCPs. The result was improved continuity of care, reduced junior doctor workload, expanded outpatient and ward support, and greater consultant capacity; SCPs also joined the on-call rota and, in some cases, independently reviewed emergency patients, helping offset staffing pressures and supporting future reductions in agency spend.

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust