1. LOCUM PROJECT

2. Suzanne Riley Project Manager – Medical Retention
Locum Project
Introduction
Suzanne Riley
Project Manager – Medical Retention
Since October 2006 – and still learning
RDN Recruitment and Retention Team

3. Murrimbidgee Division
Locum Project
CONSORTIA
Locum Coordinators
Northern Region
Mrs. Sally Urquhart - Barwon Division
Southern Region
Mrs. Caryn Deaton (nee Stuckings) –
Murrimbidgee Division

4. Locum Project
The Locum Project
a body of work
for all rural NSW

5. Locum Project Attracting* recruiting employing locum planning*
Administration*
development *

6. RDN Locum
Locum meets lamington

7. An Ideal Locum
3:5 years recent clinical experience as a GP in Australia or similar
have qualifications and credentials equitable to an Australian Graduate
have FRACGP or equivalent
have high level English literacy
NSW drivers licence or equivalent
Professionally un-encumbered

8. An Ideal Locum
It still took almost 18 months to recruit and employ this doctor, and a further 4 weeks to obtain his first Medicare provider number! Estimated cost to taxpayers – more than $30,000 before this doctor was enabled to effectively practice as locum in NSW.

9. NSW RDN Locum Service rural and remote NSW
priority to localities RRMA 4 – 7
towns with less than 3 GPs
43 locum weeks provided (Jul-Dec 06)
38 by OTD, 5 by Urban doctors

10. A picture tells a thousand words
The Doctor Drought
A picture tells a thousand words
Albury March 2007

11. NSW Locums Locums – not a workforce shortage bandaid
Locums best used for retention – to relieve resident GPs.
Long, arduous and bureaucratic red tape to sponsor OTD locums
How can the recruitment process be streamlined, yet retain highest quality

12. RDN Initiatives WHATS PROVING USEFUL ELS for Urban GPs Project
sees Urban GPs train in exchange for rural locums
44 locum weeks from 2005 course
Estimated 52 locum weeks from the 2007 course
suits RRMA 3

13. Tree Change & Improvements
more Aussie docs expressing interest**
Aussie docs prefer casual locums
RDN improved remuneration package

14. Development BODY of WORK all Rural GPs who locum**
Independent, Divisional, Commercial**
the locum environment**
locum retention**
Competition – how far will it go?

15. Invitation for Divisions
encourage Independent locums to advertise on RDN website
Divisions with locum services – share ideas
Divisional locums – feedback
RDAA – Locum Special Interest Group

16. Thank you
Competition is tough these days…