Locum tenens general practitioners are an essential part of a comprehensive health care system. Locum GPs fill temporary clinical positions to cover illness, maternity leave, vacations, and / or staff shortages. Locum contract periods can vary from one week to several months depending on the need of the individual healthcare facility. There are many positive reasons why general practitioners choose to work as locums.
Flexibility – working as a locum is a great way to experience different environments and locations as well as allowing flexibility for those who wish to work part-time or for set periods of time. Those working in locum tenens positions say they enjoy the flexibility of being able to take time off for family reasons, or working additional hours to earn a higher income to pay for a one-off event.
Income – your pay as a locum GP will vary depending on the facility and location, but locum tenens GPs can expect to earn substantially more than if they were in the same role in a permanent position. This is to compensate for not receiving sick pay or annual leave. Pay may also be dependent on the experience of the locum GP and the urgency of the need to fill a position. Depending on the healthcare facility offering locum employment, the position may include travel costs, or a hire vehicle and accommodation.
Choice – You are not at the mercy of an HR department as to when you can and can’t take annual leave and if you don’t enjoy working at a particular facility you can opt not to accept further shifts there. You can choose to work as a locum GP for a short period or a longer term. In some instances a locum position can lead to an offer of a permanent role.
Another advantage of working as a locum GP is that there is generally less administration and paperwork than when employed permanently in a traditional GP practice.
The cons
There aren’t many cons to being a locum GP. For most contractors work stability is variable but General Practitioners are always in demand. Entering a new work environment is always a bit daunting and patient load mean you will be expected to get up to speed quickly. This may mean having to become familiar with different processes and procedures, or learning to use a different computer system. Getting to know the workplace culture can also take time.
An often cited disadvantage is not being familiar with individual patients and their history. This can result in frustration on both sides but with the rise of super GP clinics patients are becoming increasingly comfortable with seeing a different doctor each visit and understand the need for the GP to take time to read notes.
In some instances and depending on your employer, it may not be possible to work as a locum at another facility due to conflict of interest or concerns about burnout.
To summarise, working as a locum GP is great for those with a sense of adventure and a high level of adaptability. If this sounds like you, contact HealthStaff Recruitment and we will guide you through the next step. Have a look at the locum GP jobs we have on offer.