10 things to avoid when Hiring a Locum

Locum Doctors are an important asset to hospitals and general practice, filling in the gaps left by holiday absence and sickness.  However, if you are new to hiring a locum GP and want to ensure you get the best care and attention for your patients, here’s a list of things to avoid:

1. Don’t hire a GP who isn’t listed on the GMC’s GP Register.  Locum GPs are fully qualified GPs and must therefore have the same training and qualifications as the medical providers they provide services for.
2. Don’t consider hiring a locum who isn’t on a PCO’s Performers List.  This is crucial as Primary Care Organisations (PCOs) undertake a series of checks, in addition to registration checks, before admitting a doctor to their performer’s lists.
3. Don’t hire a locum and then place them in a poorly stocked room, with inadequate introduction.  The risks of hiring a locum increase with the level of unfamiliarity, so ensure you make your new recruit feel welcome.
4. Don’t expect that your new locums will understand your computer systems.  These vary from practice to practice so allow some introduction time to explain the systems and ensure someone is on hand to offer advice should they need it, as being unfamiliar with a system could cause a patient backlog.
5. Don’t hire a locum without providing them with a written contract for their services – this protects both parties as it ensures they know what is expected from them and should form the foundation for a good working relationship.
6. Don’t request a locum without first defining the sessions you require cover for.  Specify from the onset the number of sessions required per week, start and finishing times, any on-call duties that are required and the number and length of appointments the locum is expected to get through during each session.
7. Don’t hire a locum GP who does not have medical indemnity.
8. Don’t be ‘set in stone’ when it comes to advertising your vacancies.  Offering more flexibility may make the position more attractive.
9. Don’t confirm locum appointments verbally – always make sure you also have a written record – i.e. in an email – of the acceptance and confirmed dates and times.
10. Don’t delay making payments or signing pension forms – this could result in dissatisfaction amongst GPs and may mean you struggle to fill future vacancies.

If you are looking to hire a Locum GP why not speak to our friendly team today as we can guide you through the recruitment process. 

Will Patients Suffer With New GP Deal?

If you work in the healthcare industry, you will no doubt have heard of the plans by Jeremy Hunt – the Health Secretary, to create a new deal for GPs. The plans include the recruitment of 5,000 new GPs and a reduced workload, in return for a seven-day service to go some way towards solving the current GP crisis, but what about the patients?

As of last week, over 2,200 people from the Campaign for GP Survival group had signed a petition against the proposed changes, stating that they would ‘erode primary care and put patient safety at risk’.  Even the BMA Chairman, Dr Mark Porter, branded the new deal a poor solution.  He asked the all-important question of where the funding would come from, when practices have had their budgets cut year on year, and hundreds of training posts are still unfulfilled?

When we blogged about the 7 day NHS plans last month, we mentioned that hiring a Locum GP could be the solution to the crisis.  Locums can fill the gaps in general practice, providing a skilled and efficient workforce as and when required.  So what is the best way out of the current crisis, when surely the most important thing is patient care and safety?

Could it be that this is all part of a serious deterioration in NHS services, which will rekindle the age-old argument of privatisation?

Whatever your stand point, one thing is certain.  Patients cannot suffer because of bureaucracy.  Realistic estimates need to be set.  You cannot expect a workforce of 5,000 new GPs in five years’ time, if it takes ten years to train them.  Also what can be done about intermediary care and support services to relieve the burden on GPs? How many times have you visited your doctor when you haven’t really needed to – perhaps some advice would have sufficed?

GPs remain resilient in the face of this crisis, and locum agencies are standing by to support the gaps in the workforce, by providing experienced and skilled doctors when required.  In the long term, I don’t think any of us know how this crisis is going to resolve itself.  However, as GPs we must stick to our guns and do what we were put here to do – and that is to put the health of our patients first.

How Locum GPs Can Help the New Government to Achieve the ‘Seven Day NHS’

Spearheaded by health secretary Jeremy Hunt, the new Conservative government plan to achieve a seven-day GP service, with patients throughout England to be provided with free GP access from 8am to 8pm. On top of providing a true seven day NHS, the Conservatives also plan to take steps to tackle the burnout that is increasingly common in the GP profession.

A popular move?

Whilst plans for a seven day GP service are understandably popular with the majority of people, the British Medical Association are less convinced that the government will be able to achieve their plans of increasing NHS funding in England by a minimum of £8bn a year, and recruit 5,000 GPs. However, the BMA question just how the new government will be able to translate their plans into reality and deliver a seven day NHS and increase funding when the NHS currently faces a funding gap of £30bn and a severe shortage of GPs.

Unrealistic aims

Representatives from the Royal College of General Practitioners also share a similar opinion to that of the BMA, finding it difficult to envisage how the government will achieve their aims without a huge investment in general practice and considerable changes to GP contracts and boost to the GP workforce. Whilst pledges of a seven day NHS are generally popular, across general practice, the new plans are seen as unrealistic. The real big question is where additional GP recruits will come from, with GP shortages continuing as increasing numbers of GPs decide to take early retirement, or instead decide to work as a locum.

Are locums the answer?

Whilst finding the GP workforce to provide 8am-8pm care seven days a week will no doubt be a challenge, the answer to filling the shortages in GPs could be to look to locum agencies. With the need for skilled and experienced GPs more important than ever before, locum GPs can fill thegaps in general practice to provide free healthcare whenever and wherever patients need it. By working with locum healthcare agencies, GP practices can be confident that all candidates are suitable for the job in the hand, with all locum doctors thoroughly vetted.

With GP contracts putting general practitioners under pressure and many feeling that they are unable to provide the level of care that patients deserve, it is unsurprising that the numbers of locum GPs continue to rise. With many locum GPs gaining valuable experience working in general practice before deciding to work on a locum basis, locum healthcare could indeed be the answer to providing a seven day service for GP practices throughout the country.

If you are a GP practice looking for highly skilled and experienced doctors to fill temporary positions, or if you are locum GP looking for work within the general practice sector, you can call Locum Select on 0121 308 5125.

5 Survival Tips You Need To Know If You Are Thinking About Becoming a GP

The role of a GP is very important in providing a substantial amount of patient care at all times whilst in practice.  A General Practitioner has to have extensive knowledge on being able to treat each individual patient’s symptoms – whether it is a cough to a cold or something more serious.  GP’s should provide a duty of care, and if this is done well it can be an extremely rewarding job to have.

Locum GP’s In the NHS

The NHS workforce comprises of many locum GPs – 20% of the workforce are registered as GP’s.  There are approximately 57,000 GPs on the GMC register, which shows just how appealing it can be, and how many have an interest in providing that specialist service to patients.  Many GP’s may be positioned in private practices, but their base can vary and General Practitioners may find they are often located at different practices.

Becoming a Locum GP

If you are considering becoming a locum GP, here are our 5 tips to get you started and some survival tips that could come in handy during your Locum GP career:

1. Joining a Locum Agency – this could be one of the first starting points you could consider if you want to become a GP. A locum agency will be able to provide you with support, and put your successful application forward for a number of positions.  

2. CCG Enquiry – it would be advisable to enquire if your CGG has a locum support group. Joining a network could help you to gain your CPD and gives you the chance to meet other GP’s.

3. Pack All Essentials – ensuring you have all of your own equipment with you when going for your locum GP job is important. Being prepared is key, so making sure you have relevant medical equipment such as a stethoscope, otoscope, ophthalmoscope and your own BNF as this could leave a good impression with the practice.

4. Good Manners – having a smile on your face, and greeting members of staff at the practice – as well as being polite to patients - is a great way to show your enthusiasm for the position. Having good manners will only impress the practice you are in, and could open other opportunities for you.

5. Performers List – an application should be made to be on your local Performers List. Developing your CV and creating a cover letter, will help you to achieve this. You may want to include things like: your MPS/MDU number, GMC number, UTR and hourly rates.

Working as a locum GP can be extremely rewarding, as patients will often confide in you about numerous problems they may be experiencing. Providing a high quality service will only enhance your career as a GP, and positive feedback will allow you to progress and become a reputable General Practitioner.

Find out more information on working as a locum GP by visiting our website.

New Drug Drive Laws: What GPs Need to Know

Our roads are now a safer place thanks to the introduction of new drug driving laws.

Since March 2015 it has become illegal to drive with more than a specified amount of some controlled drugs in the blood.  

As the law allows for a medical defence for those taking prescribed medications, GPs need to ensure they understand the new laws so that they can communicate clearly with patients about the impact of taking certain drugs when driving.

At Locum Select we like to keep our doctors up to date with the latest news so here’s our brief rundown of everything GPs need to know about the new laws:

1. Medication Evidence – the first thing GPs need to be aware of is that patients may ask for written confirmation of the drugs they are prescribed, in case they should be stopped by police.  They may also want to know the impact of the medication on their ability to drive.  This shouldn’t change the way medication is prescribed but you will have to ensure that patients have the appropriate information, such as the side effects of the drugs they are taking.
2. Which medication? – there are two groups of medications covered by the new drug drive offence – recreational drugs, which have been set at a low level and licensed medications, for which higher levels are acceptable in the blood stream. Commonly used recreational drugs may include:
   
   • Cannabis
   • Heroin
   • Cocaine
   • Ketamine
   • LSD
   
   Licensed medications covered by the new laws include:
   
   • Benzodiazepines (e.g. clonazepam, oxazepam and diazepam)
   • Methadone
   • Morphine
    
3. Medical Defence – if the police suspect a driver is unfit to drive they can stop them at the roadside to screen saliva for the presence of drugs.  A positive result will most likely lead to blood tests to determine whether drug levels are above the new legal limits.  If the individual is taking medication for therapeutic purposes they can raise a medical defence.  As a GP you should be clear on your duty and disclose only the necessary information.
4. Document advice – The MDU advises that GPs document advice given to patients about their medication, in particular advice about driving while taking medication.
5. Communicate with patients – it is important to understand whether patients are taking more drugs than they are being prescribed.  If you suspect this, or they are ordering repeat prescriptions too frequently it would be prudent to discuss their fitness to drive and ensure everything is documented.

If you need further information on the drug drive offence you can contact the MDU.