The locum doctor industry in the United Kingdom is changing; doctors are becoming
more aware that the locum positions offer a better rate of pay as well as the opportunity to work in different locations and gain experience within different UK NHS departments. As the demand for locum doctors increases so does the number of locum doctor recruitment agencies all looking to grab a piece of the NHS pie.
With the sheer number of medical recruitment companies out there all promising locum doctors a chance to work in NHS hospitals for phenomenal amounts of money; how does a doctor differentiate between the companies that are there to grab a quick buck and the medical recruitment companies that are there to truly satisfy a doctors locum requirements?
There are a number of ways a doctor can tell the difference between a cowboy agency and a legitimate medical recruitment agency. Most legitimate recruitment agencies now offer what is called a preregistration form; this form is an agreement between the doctor and the recruitment agency detailing the doctors exact locum requirements.
Locum doctors in the United Kingdom need to keep in mind those agencies that offer them high rates of pay for junior positions such as SHO and HO may sound good but are more often than not too good to be true. When speaking to your locum agency there are a series of quick questions that will set your mind at ease, know that the agency that you are working with are looking out for your best interests.
1. What NHS Hospital do you regularly supply locum doctors to?
2. What are your general guidelines on locum pay rates?
3. What are your payment procedures?
4. What compliance practises does your company follow?
5. Does your agency have any references from clients and locum doctors regarding your services?
6. Please can you send me your company terms and conditions.
A common misconception with locum doctors in the United Kingdom is that they think that working with a lot of agencies at the same time will get them the locum jobs that they desire. This is however untrue a locum doctor should work with a maximum of two agencies at the same time and preferably work with only one agency. By doing this you will build a relationship with your agency and they will be more inclined to get you the position that you are looking for.