dbRotations by dbRotas
Over the last year, we have been working with dbRotas, a software developer who has created a bespoke, algorithm-based tool and platform for TPDs to facilitate trainee hospital allocation and manage trainee data.
The software has been successfully trailled in West Yorkshire with Stage 1 Anaesthetic trainees for the February and August 2025 rotations, including ACCS trainees for August 2025.
Key platform features
For Residents include the ability to input:
1. Educational needs and preferences
2. Exceptional requirements, such as care or occupational health needs
3. Order of preference for hospitals within the programme
4. Movement preferences, ensuring that residents who relocated the previous year are not moved again if possible
5. Postcode for commute calculations - (the TPD can decide whether to use the postcode data)
For TPDs include the ability to input:
1. Trusts and hospitals within the deanery and their capacity to accommodate residents
2. Educational requirements for each year/module of the training programme
3. Available educational opportunities, including which modules can be undertaken at which locations, along with minimum and maximum resident capacity per module/trust/hospital
4. Maximum number of rotations to prevent unnecessary moves for residents who have already relocated
5. Manual allocation options for residents with bespoke needs
Example pictures of dbRotations platform
To see more higher resolution examples with descriptions - click here
Results
Of 60 trainees assessed, 29 were eligible for allocation, with 69.0% in full-time training. Most trainees (93.1%) received one of their top two ranked rotations, with a mean allocated preference rank of 1.6 (SD 0.8) from six possible hospitals. The mean commuting time was 26.2 minutes (SD 12.5 minutes).
After the rotation allocations are confirmed by the TPD the cohort results can be sent to the trainees. Please see below for an example and click here to see in more detail (via dbRotas webpage)
Trainee Feedback
Feedback showed 96% valued a formal preferencing system, 76% found it easy to use and 60% considered it fair.
Please get in touch if you would like to be considered for the next part of the trial!
