 Provide you with idea of the work, the life and image of a locum GP  Practical tips for preparing and setting up  How do to keep organised  How to arrange the finances  How to find work  Pitfalls  Support structures

Anyone thinking about locuming?

Let’s imagine a day in the life of 2 locums

 Flexibility - Starting times, finishes - Visits or no visits? - Annual leave and study leave  No or few heartsinks  Variation in patients, people and location  Better work life balance  Take less work home  Less bureaucracy

 Lack of continuity  Harder but not impossible to fulfil appraisal needs  Some people like stability  Insecurity  Clinical behaviour ?more referrals/Ix  Shock to the system to switch back – paperwork, extras, visits, scripts!!!

 PMETB CCT  GMC  Primary Performer’s List confirmation letter  Medical Indemnity (number of sessions)  CRB check  CV!  Serology

Register as self employed with HMRC (within 3 months of starting) Need to ask for an NI contributions form when registering self employed  Buy own equipment  Consider A-Z map or Sat Nav  Insure your car for business use

 A must!!  Has to be fairly detailed to protect you and practices  Rates, Start and finish times, duties covered in depth – incl. Number of visits, paperwork, scripts etc.  Cancellation policy and charges for late payment  How to pay – BACS or cheque – details of account number  Date by which payment expected

 Always send confirmation by or letter  Be clear about how you work and know what is expected of you  What computer system do they use?  Record in paper diary with back-up, mobile diary, Google calendar(on the cloud)  Excel earnings sheet – amounts, dates, when payment due etc

 Itemised list of duties and pay  Clear final total  Late charges warning  Account details if BACS transfer preferred  When giving an invoice give in FORM A and must be returned to you

 Rates – can’t discuss, anticompetitive!  First How much do I need to earn? mortgages/cars/shoes - How much holiday do I want to take/can I? - No sick leave – PHI, 6 month safety net - Must take into account taxes/NI/Pension contributions

 Second Is this long-term vs. short term work? - On-call duties - Average rates -recent survey Medeconomics - Hourly - £ Day rates - £200 – ½ day + visits- £200 – hour surgery - £ Complicated depending on how you work - Business like – discounts for more sessions?

 Ideally have a separate current account for business  Cheque or BACS payments  Pension contributions – must be in at WYCSA/equivalent by 7 th of following month - FORM A and B - Cheque with pension  NI on direct debit or 6 monthly payments

 Put aside money for TAX/Class 4 NI  Need money for tax in the January of the following year + ½ of predicted income for that tax year too  Then more needed in the next July  Savings account/off-set mortgage  Apply for mortgage before becoming self employed

 Keep all receipts – GMC, CCT fee, NASGP, MPS, RCGP, petrol, MOT, car insurance, Equipment  Need to do mileage log twice a year  Mobile phone bills  Computers/internet  Courses  Sat Navs/Maps

Get an accountant early!

 Work as a freelance locum  Work for an agency (not pensionable)  Work as a limited company (tax benefits but not pensionable)  Working in a Locum chambers  OOH work – LCD -

 Ask your current PM  Personal visits or telephone calls to PM - Need a good covering letter and CV  Sleeping with....  Your own Website  People you know/meetings  Websites – BMJCareers, Pulse, Healthcare Republic  LMC –

 Also, how do you keep it....reliability! - Be early - Your reputation precedes or follows you - Clear referral letters - Clear concise notes - If you like the practice, favours go a long way - Never cancel unless absolutely essential

 Practices not paying/late payment  Last minute cancellations  Additional work being given  Disorganised practices  Taking on too much work  Being fresh meat and not negotiating  Safe handover to colleagues and admin staff

 NASGP  Sessional groups – First5 Google Group  Working in locum chambers  Friends  Meetings – ask salaried/partner friends

Questions ?

GOOD LUCK