Starting out as a locum doctor

Locum positions are rewarding and give you great insight into how a variety of organisations work. Starting work as a locum doctor comes with its own challenges, particularly if you are a newly-qualified doctor. As a locum doctor, you will know that your role varies depending on the organisation that you work in. Whilst this can be challenging to get used to, it is an opportunity from which you will learn and gain more experience. With the right tools, you will succeed as a locum.  

Getting to know the work environment 

Whilst non-private clinical settings run on NHS guidelines, each one will have their own method of operation, particularly in where things are kept, logistics and of course, administration. The way things are done in one organisation may not apply in another, so it is somewhat of a learning curve. 

See if you can attain a little time at the beginning of the first day, to familiarise yourself with the day to day running and get to know the staff. Everyone is different in most practices, and you can find that a friendly face is a great asset if you are not sure about something. Even simple things like what people normally do in their lunch break, can you make your own coffee will help you to feel comfortable. After all, you are a human being, not just a locum! 

Your attitude towards wanting to fit naturally into the team will make it more likely for you to be rebooked by the practice. If the person who booked with you is absent from the practice when you finish your day, he will almost certainly ask the receptionist or your temporary colleagues what they thought about you, so their favourable response is key. 

Getting to know your patients 

Patient wellbeing is obviously at the forefront of your concerns and the ‘getting to know’ principle can be difficult to achieve in a short space of time, so it may be quite likely that you will also face this challenge as a locum doctor. 

Patient continuity is a particular concern in Primary Care settings where they may be expecting to see a familiar face or have built up a relationship with a particular GP, Another eventuality is dealing with a difficult patient who ‘wants to see their own GP’. You could face some reticence from them to talk to anyone else. This could be because they are stressed or they have a medical complaint that they do not wish to disclose to a doctor they do not know. This is where ‘be patient with a patient’ comes into play!  

Take extra care to put your patients at ease. It may be worth giving an extra in-depth response to reassure them of your expertise and approach them with a friendly and open manner. They should mirror your attitude and be open with their response, meaning that no concerns get missed.  

Feeling isolated? 

When you go to a new organisation for the first time, it can be a lonely experience if you are just shown your room and are expected to get on with it. You may have only been contracted to work a few hours, so you don’t have any time to spend meeting staff, particularly if your appointment schedule is exceptionally busy. This is something you may not be used to as a newly qualified doctor, who spent their training years with a multitude of people. You may also have enjoyed the pastoral benefits of being part of a VTS scheme, so being alone for the first time can be daunting. 

To overcome feelings of isolation, there are always opportunities to meet others such as online forums, your local LMC and by writing for blogs to expand your network and start conversations.  

Challenges outside of clinical work 

Managing your own time as a locum comes with its own business practices. Without any experience in this, you may be daunted by the various complexities involved, such as self-employment, taxation, planning a pension etc. Employing the services of a specialist accountant can help to guide you through this potential minefield. Otherwise, do your research and get organised in the beginning to save any complications further down the line. 

Finding shifts 

Building a good relationship with an agency means that they will understand your needs and requirements and find the right shifts for you. You can register with AppLocum to hear about our latest shifts as soon as they are posted.