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.

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.

GP Workforce Crisis is Great News for the Locum GP

If you work in the healthcare industry then you will be only too aware of the difficulties arising from the recent NHS reforms.  As a knock-on effect of this, a wave of early retirements and increased pressure on the general practice workforce has led to vacancies at GP surgeries across the country.  

This rise in vacancies has unsurprisingly led to a surge in demand for locum GPs.  In a recent survey by Medeconomics.co.uk, 53% of the locums questioned said demand for their services had increased, despite the fact that over 60% of them said they were aware that practices in their area were trying to reduce costs.

Whilst some practices may view the custom of hiring a locum GP to be an additional squeeze on budgets, at a time when things are already stretched, the more forward-thinking surgeries are realising that this is the best way forward.  Hiring locums enables the GP practice to deliver a constantly high level of care and service to patients and can help to fill those temporary gaps caused by holidays, sick leave or recent departures.

GP practices may be desperate to balance the books and make their resources stretch as far as possible but it seems many will have little choice but to turn to the services of a Locum GP.  Yes, practices have had their budgets cut but they will continue to put the patient first, even if this does mean incurring higher costs in the short term.  After all, hiring locums is a great way to ease pressure on the workload of other practice GPs whilst actively recruiting for permanent GPs to join the workforce in place of those who have retired or departed.

Despite the cost element, there are many reasons why practices will benefit from hiring locums, these may include:

• Quick and short term solution when there is no time to recruit for permanent positions
• The locum agency will work with the client to find the most suitable candidate for vacancy
• All applicants are screened by the agency which delivers peace of mind to practice managers
• Locum GPs can offer a fresh and sometimes more thorough approach to patients as they have had no prior contact with them and will therefore need to get more background information on their condition.

The versatility of the locum doctor makes them an ideal candidate to fill temporary roles within general practice.  If you would like to find out more about the advantages of hiring a locum GP please visit the Locum Select website.

Current GPs Are Facing Burnout – Could Working As A Locum Be The Answer?

A recent article published on the GP Online website (http://www.gponline.com/) has stated that trainee GPs ought to be given resilience training in order to prevent them from reaching burnout during their career.  GPs face all sorts of pressure during their working life, whether they are a newly qualified GP or whether they have been in the role for a number of years.  Getting the work-life balance just right is a tricky task and one which very few GPs get right, but could working as a locum GP be the answer?

Providing resilience training for GPs was a main topic of discussion at 2014’s annual RCGP conference which was held in Liverpool.  It was felt that whilst trainee GPs are given adequate training from a clinical point of view, little support or guidance was offered in relation to how they ought to manage their role from a personal point of view.  Being able to sustain the amount of time trainees can spend in real life working situations, such as during half day release, is very important as this time can provide trainees with a clear idea of the pressures they will be facing on a daily basis.  They need to learn and develop tools during their training on how to handle heavy workloads and difficult situations which they can rely upon once they are qualified.

Many GPs are turning to locum GP agencies as an alternative to working in a full time, permanent role.  In fact, around 15,500 GPs in the UK are now working as a locum GP, and for good reason too:

• Locum GPs can have greater flexibility in terms of choosing their working hours.  They may only wish to sign up to work a handful of sessions per week, or they could choose a greater number of hours if they so wished.
• Working as a locum can give more variety, instead of working at the same practice every day, locum GPs can work in an assortment of healthcare settings.  This can benefit newly qualified doctors as they may not be sure about which area of practice they wish to follow, or it can help to keep an experienced GP on their toes by having the opportunity to deal with different kinds of patients.
• Working as a locum GP can be financially rewarding for the GP, as they can charge a higher hourly rate than they would receive as a permanent GP.

Of course, working as a Locum GP also means that the individual does not have the usual stresses and strains which are commonly felt by employed GPs.  It can give them the flexibility to take time off as and when they need it, meaning they will be more productive during their working hours.

To find out more about working as a locum GP or to get intouch with a locum GP agency, feel free to take a look at the Locum Select website. 

Does Working As A Locum Provide GPs With A Better Work-Life Balance And Therefore Improve Their Morale?

A recent survey by the British Medical Association shows that GPs are more likely than any other branch of medical practice to experience low morale. The results of the BMA poll show that almost three quarters (72.8%) of GPs currently feel that their workload is not only unmanageable, but also unsustainable.

This figure is almost double that of consultants, of whom only 40% felt that their current workload was unmanageable or unsustainable, considering they were the second most likely group of medical practitioners to feel this way. It is therefore not a surprise that GPs were also found to have the lowest morale of any group of doctors.

The results of the BMA poll found that roughly 40% of all doctors described themselves as experiencing low morale, however, GP morale was found to be lowest of all. On a scale of one being very low morale, to five being high morale, GPs scored an average of 2.38, suggesting that low morale within general practice is widespread.

Given that so many GPs feel that their workload is unmanageable and they are experiencing diminished morale, GPs have also been found to be the least satisfied group of doctors in terms of their work life balance. Around 55% of GPs admitted to always working beyond their normal expected hours of work over the past month; as with their overall morale, this is a much higher percentage than in any other branch of medical practice.

Given that so many GPs feel overworked and generally unhappy with their profession, it comes as no surprise that 44% have considered early retirement, or at least quitting general practice before they reach retirement age.

With GP morale at an all-time low, increasing numbers of GPs are deciding against full-time positions, and are instead deciding to work on a locum basis. Locum GPs generally have a much higher morale than full-time general practice doctors as they are able to manage their own work load so that it is sustainable for them.

Due to being able to pick and choose placements from locum agencies, Locums are able to benefit from considerable flexibility in their schedule, so if they choose, they can work consistently for a long period, before taking some time off to be able to properly unwind, or even working on a more sporadic basis. Working as a locum does not have anywhere near the same level of pressures of working as a full-time GP, allowing individuals to enjoy a much healthier work-life balance.

If you are a GP and feel that your current workload is unmanageable and are experiencing low morale, you can visit the Locum Select website to find out more about how being a locum GP could benefit you.

What Can Be Done About The Current GP Trainee Shortage?

A recent report from the Health Education England has confirmed that GP recruitment levels are well below target and England’s GP workforce is actually shrinking.  This news is worrying, though it accurately reflects the thoughts of GP leaders, who have been concerned about the growing pressures on primary care in recent years.  But why are the levels of doctors falling?

·         Many doctors are retiring and wish to take a step back from the demands of full-time general practice

·         A growing number of doctors are leaving the service to start families and are taking time out to raise their young children

·         Many trainees are choosing to specialise in a particular area as opposed to joining general practice

·         Growing numbers of trainees are not completing their training on time

Health Education England’s report, known as ‘Securing the Future GP Workforce’, has a number of suggestions on how to rectify the current GP trainee shortage:

·         GP recruitment has been stuck at just 2,700 per year in recent years, however this target needs to increase to 3,250

·         The number of speciality training posts may need to be cut in order to ensure that medical graduates undertake general practice training

·         General practice needs to be promoted more widely as a career to students at secondary school as well as medical school.  Encouraging medical students to consider general practice during their foundation training may also help to increase recruitment levels.

The report strongly outlines the need to reduce the number of trainees in speciality areas in order to support the Government’s plan to transfer care away from hospitals.  Changes will need to be made in terms of education investment and a carefully devised plan will need to be put into place in order for appropriate timescales to be met.

Whilst many GPs may be looking to reduce their hours in order to improve their work-life balance, working on a locum basis may be a practical option.  Doctors who are approaching retirement age and wish to work on a part-time basis, or parents of young children who wish to work flexible hours which can fit around their family may find that locum work can fit in to their lifestyle.  This solution can also benefit the NHS as an increased number of doctors can stay within general practice, helping to ease the current GP shortage.

To find out more about life as a locum GP or to find out how to register with a locum GP agency, feel free to take a look at the Locum Select website. 

Are GPs At Breaking Point? How New Reforms Are Affecting GP Practices

Due to financial cutbacks, considerable numbers of patients could be without a family doctor within the next few years, as many surgeries are faced with possible closure. It has become commonplace in some GP practices for patients to regularly have to wait for up to two weeks just to see a GP for a routine consultation.

Due to further cutbacks that were put into action in April, the British Medical Association warns that up to 100 GP practices could face closure in as little as a few years. Many practices are no longer able to provide the level of care that patients need, with some GPs seeing around 60 patients a day. When considering the calls that GPs must make and take, the paper work that they must complete as well as home visits to patients that are not capable of making their way to the surgery, this leaves GPs no longer than 10 minutes to spend with each patient.

Some GPs have faced such pressure from government cutbacks that they have been forced to make their boundaries smaller, leaving patients from outside these boundaries to find a new GP. However, for some patients, it is not a simple task to find another local practice that can take on new patients, as a neighbouring practice may be in a similar situation where their books are too full for them to be able to take on new patients.

For some people living in rural communities, their local GP surgery closing or shrinking its boundaries could leave them having to travel quite a distance to visit a doctor, and for some patients, this may not be possible.

With a growing population, and people generally living longer, patient demand is increasing and a lot of GPs are feeling considerable strain as their patient load and work load continues to increase. This has led to larger numbers of GPs deciding to retire early, or ever increasingly, working as locum doctors, whilst some young doctors decide against general practice altogether, preferring to work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Locum GPs can benefit from flexibility in their schedules, as they can choose work placements that last anywhere between just a few days or a number of months. One of the key advantages that locum GPs can have is that they are able to take longer leaves of absence, allowing them to relax for longer periods of time, unlike fulltime GPs who cannot take long periods of annual leave at a time, and therefore, often can’t find enough time to fully unwind.

With pressure building on General Practices, it is likely that GPs will need to take leaves of absence to cope with the strains of their job. In this case, practices would be required to hire a locum GP in their place whilst they are away.

To find out more about locum healthcare, you can visit the Locum Select website.  

Hay Fever Is On The Rise, But Is It Worth A Visit To Your GP?

GP Online have reported recently that the number of hay fever sufferers who have visited their GP over the last couple of weeks has doubled since the same time last year.  But how will GP practices cope, and do you really need to visit a GP if you are suffering from hay fever?

Any kind of epidemic or seasonal illness such as the Norovirus and hay fever will inevitably increase pressure on a GP practice.  Whilst many patients have a genuine need to see a doctor, many may find that they can relieve their symptoms by speaking to a pharmacist and taking over the counter medicines.  In the case of highly contagious infections such as the Norovirus, it is usually recommended that patients in fact stay away from their local GP practice, so as to prevent the infection from spreading.

To cope with the increased demand from patients, GP practices are turning to using GP locum agencies to try to ensure that as many patients are seen as possible within the recommended timescales.  Some practices may just need to hire GP locums for a couple of weeks to cover extremely busy periods, but as the summer approaches, many GPs will inevitably be wishing to take annual leave.  This leaves a number of appointments which are needed to be covered, so if you need to visit your GP this summer, you may find that you will be seen by a locum.

Hay fever is caused by a person having an allergic reaction to pollen, and different types of pollen are prevalent at different times of the year.  Mid-June does seem to see the peak of hay fever due to the types of pollen which are in the atmosphere, and weather forecasters have stated that the pollen count has been slightly higher than usual for June 2014. 

Common symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, throat and ears plus a cough.  Persistent symptoms can make you feel miserable and become cumbersome, but if possible it’s best to keep away from the GP’s surgery and instead persevere with over the counter remedies until the pollen levels begin to die down.

Further details about locum GPs can be found at the Locum Select website.

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.

Locum Select To Exhibit At Career Pathways Event

Birmingham Locum GP agency, Locum Select will be exhibiting at the Career Pathways event in March 2014.  The event which is billed as the fast-track to career development for primary care professionals will be held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on 19^th March.

In a changing NHS landscape it is more important than ever for nurses and doctors to be aware of their options and this event aims to provide information on the alternative career options available to primary care professionals as well as encouraging them to explore the many different career routes available.  With keynote speakers and notable independent health care advisors participating in the event, no doubt organisers are hoping to meet or exceed the 1000 healthcare professionals who came along to last year’s event. 

The Locum Select team are looking forward to exhibiting at the Career Pathways event, which will also feature conference sessions to enable delegates to find out more about their options both here in the UK and internationally.

Locum Select will be located at stand 51 for the duration of the event and will be able to answer visitors questions about the opportunities available for locum doctors and nurses in the region.  As we work with a wide variety of healthcare organisations such as General Practice, hospitals, prisons and walk in centres, we can offer locum GPs and nurses a variety of temporary and longer term positions in their preferred sector.

With many years’ experience in the healthcare industry, we are best placed to find out the needs of our registered locums and match these with the requirements of our healthcare clients.  There is more information about our agency and the clients we work with on our website www.locumselect.com