How A Locum GP Might Save Your Life

An article in the news recently caught our eye as it emphasised how a Locum doctor may be better placed to deal with patients and diagnose conditions.  This is not to say anything against a patient’s usual GP, only that it may be a good thing to be presented with a locum when visiting your local surgery.

A Locum GP will have a fresh approach to the situation, asking more questions than the patient’s regular doctor as they have no previous experience of treating the patient and therefore want to make sure they get all the background information necessary.  In the case of Ali Stunt, a former geochemist from Surrey, a Locum doctor was able to make a lifesaving decision, referring Mrs Stunt to a pancreatic surgeon who diagnosed a 5cm cancerous tumour on the pancreas.  Three previous visits to her GP practice had resulted in the wrong diagnosis of IBS and stomach irritation.

Mrs Stunt said:

‘You hear so many negative things about locums missing things — but I think the fact that I was seen by someone who was looking at me through a fresh pair of eyes, and who was perhaps more up-to-date in their knowledge, saved my life.’

A quarter of the workforce is made up of Locums and it is great to hear the positive side of seeing a doctor who may not be your usual GP but who is just as capable, if not more so, of dealing with your concerns.

You can read the full article in the Daily Mail. 

To find out more about the service provided by Locum Select, feel free to visit the website.