Worked late again?
Exception Report on WhatsApp
...just 3 taps before you leave the car park.

Scan to open Caern

Free, no app, no password, no forms.

Simply share your location with Caern via WhatsApp when you finish work late.

Send your finish time, two taps, then receive a timestamped location certificate.

You get the pay or time off you deserve, Caern removes the friction.

For resident doctors

How it works

1
Message Caern on WhatsApp when you finish beyond your rostered hours. Free, no login, no forms to fill.
2
Caern guides you through the info it needs, two taps and you're done. Send your current location: Caern refuses a saved or searched place and asks again.
3
Receive a timestamped location certificate - secure proof of your report, stronger than a screenshot.

18:45

‹CaernBusiness account

Today

Late finish18:41 ✓✓

Submitting an exception report, on it. 1. Tap the + button to the left of the text box 2. Tap the 'Location' button 3. Tap 'Send your current location', not a saved or searched place Share your location as you leave - the door or the car park is fine, just do it whilst you're still onsite.18:41

18:44 ✓✓

Thanks, got your location. What time were you meant to finish?18:44

5pm18:44 ✓✓

And what time did you actually finish?18:44

6.30pm18:45 ✓✓

Logged ✅ Meant to finish 17:00, actually finished 18:30 - 1h 30m over. Location logged at 18:44.18:45

Would you like this paid or as time off in lieu?18:45

Pay

Time off in lieu

CaernWould you like this paid or as time off in lieu?

Pay18:45 ✓✓

Got it - recorded as pay. Now send this to your trust exception reporting email to submit it: • click the 'Open certificate' link below • click the 'Open in your email' button down the bottom of the certificate • this will open the pre-filled email in your email app • just enter the email for your trust exception reports (usually found on hospital intranet) • check the details and click send, and it's done!18:45

Open certificate

4 Feb 2026

Reformed exception reporting became mandatory in every English trust.

4 Aug 2026

Access and completion fines double to £500 per doctor per week, and the response window tightens to 7 days.

94%

of resident doctors work beyond their hours at least monthly - and half have never reported it. BMA survey, 2024.

10 Point Plan

Point 7: enable and encourage exception reporting. NHS England, Aug 2025.

What you get

Pay or time off in lieu

Your choice, played back to you before anything is submitted.

Proof that is yours

A timestamped certificate of receipt. Portable, and stronger than a screenshot.

Free, forever

Caern Exception Reporting is free for resident doctors. No catches.

Worked late again?Exception Report on WhatsApp...just 3 taps before you leave the car park.

How it works

Pay or time off in lieu

Proof that is yours

Free, forever

Next time you finish late, tell Caern.

Worked late again?
Exception Report on WhatsApp
...just 3 taps before you leave the car park.