FEATURE
“Locums are
Whatever the reasons, the
profession is not prepared for
the potential chaos of so many
GPs working outside a managed
environment. So what does this
mean for practices? With fewer
marginalised”
partners, combined with their
higher earnings, more salaried
GPs are being employed. So,
when there is a demand for
extra GPs, the practice manager
is faced with a great number of
thinly-spread locums. Not only
Dr Richard Fieldhouse has campaigned for the rights does this increase the workload,
of locums for more than a decade; he argues that
but it reduces the chances of
hiring locums that are already
they are ignored by the NHS
familiar with the practice, or
indeed local services. In terms of
risk management, this is serious;
For years the medical profession the trend is leaning towards
d Moss has bumbled along, ignorant of locums being hired who are
the demographics of its doctors. unfamiliar with local systems and
Edwar
Official statistics have only processes.
ever alluded to the number of
partners working in a practice, So what can we do about it?
only recently including the Practices can accommodate
names of employed GPs. The locums most successfully by
NASGP conducted independent understanding their unique
research and found that a position. As a profession, a lot
staggering 25% of fully-qualified more can be done. Significant
GPs work as locums. Not only resources need to be allocated
does this huge figure obviously to allow locums to work within
have an impact on locums and managed organisations.
on workforce planning, but it Working examples of this
also impacts on practices and already exist, ranging from
patients too. informal sessional GP groups
to highly-structured locum
So why are there so many chambers – none of which
locums? We’re quick to blame receive any form of funding from
cost-cutting practices, who the NHS.
are trying to save money and
engaging fewer partners, We need to act together and
Dr Richard Fieldhouse speaking at the MPS GP conference in Birmingham last year
but there is more to it than fight the system of enforced
that. More and more GPs are underperformance that
I founded the National to the superannuation scheme choosing to become locums. permeates through the locum
Association of Sessional GPs for locum GPs; increasing For a start it is a great way to profession, where patients may
(NASGP) 12 years ago when I the number of locum groups get a feel for the area, staff and be exposed to unnecessary risk.
finished my GP registrar year. to around 80%; persistently patients and eventually to find Doing nothing is no longer an
There was no other organisation lobbying the BMA and the perfect practice. It is also option.
representing the interests of the RCGP to do more for flexible, and allows GPs with
GP locums and other sessional sessional GPs; and producing young children to choose when Dr Richard Fieldhouse is a
GPs. During its time, the NASGP a standardised practice locum not to work. However, it is also member of Pallant Medical
has gained many successes induction pack with the MPS, very hard to choose when to Chambers, and can be
and these include: persuading among other things. But there is work, which can be unhelpful contacted on Richard@
the BMA to negotiate access still so much to do. and cause stress. pallantmedical.co.uk.
www.mps.org.uk YOUR PRACTICE VOL. 3 NO. 1, 2009 9
YP07 pp09 locums marginalized.indd 9 3/2/09 13:36:57
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