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Provide you with idea of the work, the life and
image of a locum GP
Practical tips for preparing and setting up
How do to keep organised
How to arrange the finances
How to find work
Pitfalls
Support structures
Anyone thinking about locuming?
Let’s imagine a day in the life of 2 locums
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Flexibility
- Starting times, finishes
- Visits or no visits?
- Annual leave and study leave
No or few heartsinks
Variation in patients, people and location
Better work life balance
Take less work home
Less bureaucracy
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Lack of continuity
Harder but not impossible to fulfil appraisal
needs
Some people like stability
Insecurity
Clinical behaviour ?more referrals/Ix
Shock to the system to switch back –
paperwork, extras, visits, scripts!!!
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PMETB CCT
GMC
Primary Performer’s List confirmation letter
Medical Indemnity (number of sessions)
CRB check
CV!
Serology
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Register as self employed with HMRC - 0845 915 4515
(within 3 months of starting)
Need to ask for an NI contributions form when registering self
employed
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Buy own equipment
Consider A-Z map or Sat Nav
Insure your car for business use
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A must!!
Has to be fairly detailed to protect you and
practices
Rates, Start and finish times, duties covered in
depth – incl. Number of visits, paperwork, scripts
etc.
Cancellation policy and charges for late payment
How to pay – BACS or cheque – details of account
number
Date by which payment expected
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Always send confirmation by email or letter
Be clear about how you work and know what
is expected of you
What computer system do they use?
Record in paper diary with back-up, mobile
diary, Google calendar(on the cloud)
Excel earnings sheet – amounts, dates, when
payment due etc
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Itemised list of duties and pay
Clear final total
Late charges warning
Account details if BACS transfer preferred
When giving an invoice give in FORM A and
must be returned to you
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Rates – can’t discuss, anticompetitive!
First......
- How much do I need to earn?
mortgages/cars/shoes
- How much holiday do I want to take/can I?
- No sick leave – PHI, 6 month safety net
- Must take into account taxes/NI/Pension
contributions
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Second....
- Is this long-term vs. short term work?
- On-call duties
- Average rates -recent survey Medeconomics
- Hourly
- £70 - 95
- Day rates
- £200 – 566
- ½ day + visits
- £200 – 375
- 2 hour surgery - £150 - 225
- Complicated depending on how you work
- Business like – discounts for more sessions?
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Ideally have a separate current account for
business
Cheque or BACS payments
Pension contributions – must be in at
WYCSA/equivalent by 7th of following month
- FORM A and B
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk
- Cheque with pension
NI on direct debit or 6 monthly payments
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Put aside money for TAX/Class 4 NI
Need money for tax in the January of the
following year + ½ of predicted income for that
tax year too
Then more needed in the next July
Savings account/off-set mortgage
Apply for mortgage before becoming self
employed
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Keep all receipts – GMC, CCT fee, NASGP,
MPS, RCGP, petrol, MOT, car insurance,
Equipment
Need to do mileage log twice a year
Mobile phone bills
Computers/internet
Courses
Sat Navs/Maps
Get an accountant early!
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Work as a freelance locum
Work for an agency (not pensionable)
Work as a limited company (tax benefits but
not pensionable)
Working in a Locum chambers
- www.yorkshiremedicalchambers.co.uk
- www.Sterlingmedicalchambers.co.uk
OOH work – LCD
- kerrie.zserdicky@lcdwestyorks.nhs.uk
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Ask your current PM
Personal visits or telephone calls to PM
- Need a good covering letter and CV
Sleeping with....
Your own Website
People you know/meetings
Websites – BMJCareers, Pulse, Healthcare
Republic
LMC – mary.mackenzie@yorlmcltd.co.uk
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Also, how do you keep it....reliability!
- Be early
- Your reputation precedes or follows you
- Clear referral letters
- Clear concise notes
- If you like the practice, favours go a long way
- Never cancel unless absolutely essential
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Practices not paying/late payment
Last minute cancellations
Additional work being given
Disorganised practices
Taking on too much work
Being fresh meat and not negotiating
Safe handover to colleagues and admin staff
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NASGP
Sessional groups – First5 Google Group
Working in locum chambers
Friends
Meetings – ask salaried/partner friends
Questions ?
GOOD LUCK