A locum, or locum tenens, is a person who temporarily fulfills the duties of another; the term is especially used for physicians or clergy.[1] For example, a locum tenens physician is a physician who works in the place of the regular physician.
Locum tenens is a Latin phrase meaning "place holding", akin to the Frenchlieutenant.
In the United Kingdom, the NHS on average has 3,500 locum doctors working in hospitals on any given day,[2] with another 17,000 locum general practitioners (GPs).[3]
On the other hand, GP locums (freelance GPs) mostly work independently from locum agencies, either as self-employed or via freelance GP chambers based on the NASGP's Sessional GP Support Team (SGPST) model. Some GPs have been employed by the primary care trusts (PCTs) to provide locum cover. However, PCTs were abolished in 2013 and replaced by the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).[4]
Advantages and disadvantagesedit
Locums provide a ready means for organizations to fill positions that are temporarily vacant or for which no long-term funding is available. Working as a locum allows a professional to gain experience in a variety of work environments or specialties.[5][6]
Some locum recruitment agencies offer pre-employment training to foreign medical graduates before their first professional experience in the primary care system.[7]
However, reliance on locums has some disadvantages:
The transient nature of the assignment means extra stress and work for locums whenever they assume a new position.[6]
For the hiring organisation, that generally means that the required flexibility and lack of guaranteed income must be rewarded with higher compensation.[5]
In professions that require knowledge of patient histories, locums may provide work of lower quality or be perceived as doing so. They may also be resented by permanent staff because they are paid more or considered to shoulder less responsibility.[5]
Referencesedit
^"Definition of LOCUM TENENS". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
^"NHS locums need 'checks and training'". BBC News. 1999-04-21. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
^"Locum GP workforce numbers out for the count". NASGP. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
^"Salaried GPs made redundant as PCTs 'shut up shop'". Pulse Today. 18 November 2011
^ abc"Career focus – Locum doctors" – Dr Philip Morgan, BMJ 7074, vol. 314. 11 January 1997
^ abMason, Pamela (2004). Locum pharmacy : a survival guide (2 ed.). London: Pharmaceutical Press. p. 11.
^"Locumdoctor4u: locum doctor for you; GP locum and ENT locum agency". locumdoctor4u.com. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
External linksedit
The dictionary definition of locum at Wiktionary
April 08, 2024
locum, confused, with, lokum, episode, order, special, victims, unit, season, episodes, locum, locum, tenens, person, temporarily, fulfills, duties, another, term, especially, used, physicians, clergy, example, locum, tenens, physician, physician, works, place. Not to be confused with Lokum For the TV episode see Law amp Order Special Victims Unit season 12 Episodes A locum or locum tenens is a person who temporarily fulfills the duties of another the term is especially used for physicians or clergy 1 For example a locum tenens physician is a physician who works in the place of the regular physician Locum tenens is a Latin phrase meaning place holding akin to the French lieutenant Contents 1 United Kingdom healthcare 2 Advantages and disadvantages 3 References 4 External linksUnited Kingdom healthcare editIn the United Kingdom the NHS on average has 3 500 locum doctors working in hospitals on any given day 2 with another 17 000 locum general practitioners GPs 3 On the other hand GP locums freelance GPs mostly work independently from locum agencies either as self employed or via freelance GP chambers based on the NASGP s Sessional GP Support Team SGPST model Some GPs have been employed by the primary care trusts PCTs to provide locum cover However PCTs were abolished in 2013 and replaced by the clinical commissioning groups CCGs 4 Advantages and disadvantages editLocums provide a ready means for organizations to fill positions that are temporarily vacant or for which no long term funding is available Working as a locum allows a professional to gain experience in a variety of work environments or specialties 5 6 Some locum recruitment agencies offer pre employment training to foreign medical graduates before their first professional experience in the primary care system 7 However reliance on locums has some disadvantages The transient nature of the assignment means extra stress and work for locums whenever they assume a new position 6 For the hiring organisation that generally means that the required flexibility and lack of guaranteed income must be rewarded with higher compensation 5 In professions that require knowledge of patient histories locums may provide work of lower quality or be perceived as doing so They may also be resented by permanent staff because they are paid more or considered to shoulder less responsibility 5 References edit Definition of LOCUM TENENS www merriam webster com Retrieved 2019 01 22 NHS locums need checks and training BBC News 1999 04 21 Retrieved 2010 01 20 Locum GP workforce numbers out for the count NASGP 8 October 2014 Retrieved 2019 01 22 Salaried GPs made redundant as PCTs shut up shop Pulse Today 18 November 2011 a b c Career focus Locum doctors Dr Philip Morgan BMJ 7074 vol 314 11 January 1997 a b Mason Pamela 2004 Locum pharmacy a survival guide 2 ed London Pharmaceutical Press p 11 Locumdoctor4u locum doctor for you GP locum and ENT locum agency locumdoctor4u com Retrieved 2019 01 22 External links edit nbsp The dictionary definition of locum at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Locum amp oldid 1176602147, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
