The Life of a Locum GP Lynda Carter

Objectives YOURS how you personally had gone about finding locum work/getting yourself and your CV known etc any forms you needed to fill in/who you needed to liase with to be above board and legit! if your 'technique' changed or if you would do anything differently should you do it again financal aspects of being a locum

Objectives MINE! Pros and Cons of Locuming Models Of Working Getting Started Branding your career Career development

The Plan! Pros and Cons Models Finding Work Organising:terms and conditions rates Administration: paperwork and equipment Finances: tax, NI, pension Getting Started Career Development

Why Locuming Works For Me FLEXIBILITY!!! Variety – location, type of work Discontinuity (Less to take home)

Why Locuming Might Not Be For You Insecurity Lack of benefits Isolation More new patients Loss of continuity

Models of Working Self employed as freelance Agency work Locum Chambers Limited Company (no NHS pension)

Finding Work Use your practice manager! Network – meetings / friends Consider personal phone calls / visiting practice managers Business cards / own website? – Lancs – Bradford and Airedale and N. Yorks Leeds Sessional GP Group Agencies

Organising Work – Terms and Conditions (or none?) Bookings – / mobile / diary / online Booking form – parking / phone number Sessions – appointment length, number of appointments, administration from consultations, visits Repeat prescriptions (NASGP article) Non NHS work Late cancellation charges / late payment charges

Organising Work - Rates Negotiate – think hols / SL / sick leave / indemnity Short term vs long term work Off peak vs peak

Local rates Competition Act1998 – Office of Fair Trading MedEconomics survey Feb 2009 – GP YorkshireDaily £340 - £700 Half day £200 - £350 2 hours£120 - £198 Hourly £60 - £88 /management/private_fees/news/937332/L ocum-Rates/ /management/private_fees/news/937332/L ocum-Rates/

What You Need To Get Started PMETB CCT GMC Primary Performer’s List confirmation letter Medical Indemnity CRB check CV! Serology

Equipment Doctors Bag Drugs Computer Phone / internet

Finances Get an Accountant! Banking – get a business account Use software - Penny Perfect Register as self-employed with HMRC (within 3 months of starting work) as-self-employed.htm as-self-employed.htm Complete DD for NI class 2 (£2ish per month) NI class 4 gets paid when tax is paid Sickness insurance

Financial Records Income Expenses Car – mileage (home to practice / visits / meetings) or insurance, breakdown, repairs, tax Equipment Home as office Telephone / internet Computer Consumables Courses (abreast of developments) Indemnity / GMC / BMA / RCGP Pension / Gift Aid

Pension Form A – one from each practice sions/GPLocumA.pdf sions/GPLocumA.pdf Form B – one per month (needs to be submitted by the 7 th of the following month to WYCSA or equivalent) sions/GPLocumB.pdf sions/GPLocumB.pdf

The start of each Session.. Arrive early Locum Pack Computer system and Passwords Check room – pxs, sick notes Calling patients Bloods CXRs Referrals Who do you ring

Career Development OOH / prison work / AE / medical journalism / education Appraisal PDP Medical Update and other meetings LMC Leeds Sessional GP group Setting up your own Sessional GP group

Branding your career / USP What a personal Brand is about Self awareness Authenticity and personal integrity Congruence Developing your unique selling point Helping you gain a competitive advantage

What do I wish I’d done differently? Computer record keeping Accountant Business account Not worried about not getting enough work Don’t accept too much work Negotiation re pay Sickness insurance

Resources NASGP Robbie Coull - Locum Doctor Survival Guide Penny Perfect LMC RCGP Medicalupdate.co.uk