The challenges:

  • Departmental efficiency pressure.
  • High staff turnover for roles performing repetitive administrative tasks.

The technical solution:

  • Technical and consultancy services procured from Royal Free London FT Automation Service (at agenda-for-change rates), using Blue Prism.

Processes automated using RPA:

  • Email debt reminders to customers.
  • Email purchase order receipting reminders to customers.
  • Copy new invoices from ‘accounts payable’ inbox into dedicated folder for audit purposes.
  • Collate and send daily summary report of new invoices to named email inbox.
  • Validate and authorise pharmacy invoices for ten named suppliers (can be scaled).
  • Validate and authorise payment for bank staff.

Benefits:

  • Improved staff retention and motivation as time released to complete more rewarding tasks.
  • Cost savings as some posts not filled through natural attrition.
  • Faster payments to suppliers as automated work is completed faster than humans, and continues out of hours.
  • Absence cover is not required as processes are automated.
  • Increased accuracy of information for finance team as eliminate human error.

Contact for further information:

  • Isobel George, Senior Robotics Developer, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Email: isobel.george1@nhs.net
  • Darren Atkins, Chief Technology Officer, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.
    Email: darrenatkins@nhs.net

This case study is one in a series exploring the use of RPA in various NHS settings. It forms part of a guide produced by the West of England AHSN sharing our learning around RPA.

Read the full guide online here or download the guide as a PDF here.