Locum doctors provide a vital service to the NHS, and where they are competent in all respects to do the work required, they provide the same standard of care as a doctor in a permanent post. But problems may arise if they are not familiar with their surroundings and with local procedures and practice.
Many locum appointments are for very short periods, and where locums are covering short-term absence, they are likely to work out of hours without direct monitoring or supervision.
The efficient and effective management of locum doctors comprises three main elements:
- reducing the need for locums by establishing the right numbers and mix of permanent medical and clinical staff
- when locums are needed, the quality of the work they do must be assured
- the cost of locums should be minimised without compromising quality