NHS v Locum

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Gathering information from pods in both camps so to speak ( NHS and Locum ) before I make my decision !
Getting steadily gruntled more and more with my NHS job...but at the same time I am a 'scaredy -cat' about taking the plunge into un chartered waters of locum work. Can you guys help me out ???

 

What would you like to know?

GB

 

I would like to know if any previous NHS pods who have switched to doing locum work are basically glad they did and that they managed to get regular well paid work. I guess that I am wanting some reasurrance that I am doing the right thing in leaving the NHS and taking on locum work instead. I know that ultimately it is my decision but some pros and cons and personal experiences from other pods may sway me one way or another.
Thanks

 

Depends on what YOU want from your career and/or what you want from life. If you're young and recently qualified and podiatry is a prime factor in your life, then working for a NHS trust which is not giving you what you want from your career/profession can be terminally destructive. Stay where you are and within a frightingly short time, you will be disillusioned, despondent - then quite ambivilent about what you can or may be willing to do for your patients and their foot problems. Of course you will enjoy paid holidays, paid sick leave, a decent pension - if you make it through the 40 years - a reasonably decent salary unless (or maybe until) you cock it up, so pros and cons depending how you look at it.

Locum work - well you have the luxury (if you can afford it) of choosing where you work or who you work for. If you don't like the conditions or the personnel, you can simply walk away on your terms. The money is better, but of course you don't have the benefits (see above), and on a bigger scale you work with the knowledge that many of the NHS trusts who may employ you, do so where clinical staff will probably resent your presence - for many reasons.

I worked as a locum and management consultant for nearly a decade - not through choice, but following a marraige breakdown - and experienced some real extremes in my professional life. I've met people within the profession, who it's been - and still is - a pleasure and honour to know (one of whom is writing in this thread), but on the other hand I've met some people whose disillusionment and experience of a career in the NHS have left them spiteful and malicious and generally unpleasant, disagreeable individuals who do neither the profession or their patients any favours whatsoever.

If you are young enough and trying to gain experience - clinically and personally - then locum work for a period - maximum 5 years - is worth trying, providing you don't have family commitments or any other ties - and you have an ultimate ambition as a private practitioner. Otherwise kep paying into the pension scheme, enjoy your paid holidays and time off with stress - or put your energies into your department and try and change things for the better. There are a few good NHS podiatry departments out there.....only don't succumb to the negativity and waste your vocation. That would be the tragedy!

 

Hi,

As Mark said.

One other factor to take into consideration is that you will find more locum work on your doorstep if you live in or around London. Otherwise you will have to travel if you want a consistent income.

Regards,

 

Hi CT

Just that little bit more info about what you wanted to know is so helpful.

Mark gives you a very frank response about what it is really like as a NHS locum.

I think it is all about personal choices, keeping an eye on the financial market and an eye on the future. What do you want to achieve and what is your longterm goal? (these questions do not require a public answer).

Have you thought about a move away from being a NHS locum and to test the private sector market for locum work or as an associate? Do you have the energies, right now, to commit to alternate Saturdays or one evening a week? This gives you an opportunity to test the water in the private sector and there's many a weary private practitioner who would welcome such an associate. In my experience word soon gets around locally (providing PP's are communicating and not ignoring one another!!) about a good locum/associate.

Again, given the turbulent credit market, instability within the housing market and this threat of recession I personally think you would be crackers to give up all the benefits of your NHS post to step out into this uncertainty. I would bide your time a little longer, research your goals and firm up your plans.

However disgruntled you are with the NHS there is nothing better than a steady pay check, pension contribution and paid hols/sick during turbulent financial times.

Just my thoughts and there will be a land of plenty at some point when the credit market stabilises.

GB

 

Curlytoe,

My experience of locum work was significantly different to what I had imagined. The agency I used deceived me several times, firstly not paying me the hourly rate they had initially promised, and then not reimbursing my travel as they had promised which was a major stipulation of mine before I accepted that particular job (it cost me £30 a day in trains and tubes). In the end after 3 weeks I left, as I was bearly breaking even.

I tried to lodge complaints etc and the agency just brushed me off, sayin gno such promises/guarantees were made. If I were legally allowed to openly name/shame and rubbish them I would. Needless to say any close friends of mine would never work for that same agency.

I guess the point of my ramblings is this - read all the small print, get things in writing and dont let your agency stitch you up

Ian

 

Thanks guys for all your advice. I guess I have alot to think about

 

The problem with doing locum work via an agency for a major retailer was the following. Apparently, they (the retail outlet) can legally cancel a booking without having to pay the locum, upto 5 mins before it starts. I am not 100% certain of that though!

Two years ago, I got up at 6.00 on a Saturday morning, got the train, and arrived for work. The agency had screwed up and I was not wanted. The agency never did pay either for my lost wages or the wasted train journey. I was fuming but there was nothing I could do! Let's just say this was an agency who used to advertise a lot in a certain journal.

The agencies will sometime beg you to work for a certain day/certain days the next week, but if the retail outlet has not got enough customers booked in to justify getting a locum in, they will cancel just like that!! It happened enough times to me! And no, if you don't work, you don't get paid.

You really are at their mercy! Believe me!You are just another name on their books!

 

Hi Curlytoe,

I can well understand you being disgruntled as have I been on a number of occasions and don't even mention 'A4C'. FFF....
However I still love working in the NHS despite some of the nonsense that goes on. I've worked pretty hard/ been lucky enough to get the kind of job I really like, and work with decent people. But it has taken tenacity and two major moves uprooting family and all the hassle that goes with that to get where I want to be.
I've 'dabbled' in private practice but have never had a serious urge to give up the NHS job. Basically I'd lose too much. If I wanted to get out of the NHS I doubt I'd do a locum job on principal because I reckon the profit gets too diluted. I'd prefer to start up in private practice on my own or as part of a group.

But it depends on your own particular circumstances and I would always say to anyone who's dissatisfied with their job: don't give it up until you've got something better and more solid to go to.

Good luck with your decisions!!