Aya Healthcare Acquires Locum’s Nest, Uniting U.S. and U.K. Leaders in Healthcare Staffing Tech
In a transatlantic move aimed at reshaping global healthcare workforce management, Aya Healthcare—the largest healthcare staffing and software firm in the U.S.—has acquired Locum’s Nest, a U.K.-based tech provider known for its trusted partnerships with NHS hospitals.
This acquisition pairs two heavyweights in healthcare staffing innovation. Aya brings its expansive U.S. digital labor marketplace and AI-enabled solutions; Locum’s Nest brings deep NHS roots and a mobile-first platform designed to seamlessly fill physician shifts across hospitals and regions.
Building a Smarter, Shared Workforce Model
Founded by physicians Dr. Nicholas Andreou and Dr. Ahmed Shahrabani, Locum’s Nest was one of the first platforms in the U.K. to introduce a regionally-managed float pool—connecting healthcare professionals with real-time shift availability across multiple NHS Trusts.
That model solves a universal staffing pain point: matching the right clinician to the right shift, fast. With a focus on flexible scheduling and workforce sustainability, the platform has become a backbone for NHS staff optimization and well-being.
Aya, known for its massive digital staffing ecosystem across travel nursing, locum tenens, allied health, and more, sees this acquisition as a chance to export best practices and accelerate global innovation in workforce technology.
“We are energized by the opportunity to transform healthcare staffing around the world through innovation, technology, and purpose,” said Emily Hazen, CEO of Aya Healthcare.
What’s Staying the Same—and What’s Scaling
Despite the acquisition, Locum’s Nest will continue operating under its own brand. The goal? Grow faster, scale smarter, and preserve the culture and mission that made the company a trusted NHS partner from day one.
“As part of the Aya family, we now have the scale and infrastructure to take that mission nationwide—immediately,” said co-founder Dr. Ahmed Shahrabani.
Meanwhile, co-founder Dr. Andreou added that the partnership will fuel bold innovation while staying grounded in Locum’s core values: supporting staff welfare, improving shift access, and empowering hospital systems to collaborate more effectively.
A Strategic Match for a Changing Workforce Landscape
The deal underscores a broader industry trend: the digitalization of healthcare labor management. As healthcare systems face worker shortages, burnout, and cost pressure, the need for scalable, tech-enabled staffing models has never been more urgent.
Aya’s platform, powered by AI, predictive analytics, and vendor management tools, already serves thousands of facilities across the U.S. Now, with Locum’s Nest in its corner, the company gains a strong foothold in the U.K.—and a partner equally committed to replacing inefficiency with intelligent automation.
It’s also a cultural match: both companies blend mission-driven values with next-gen technology to deliver outcomes that matter—not just for administrators, but for the clinicians doing the work.
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