Does anyone know any good locums?

Re: Does anyone know any good locums?

Bob Russell — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:46:07 GMT

How on earth has the profession got to this stage? So many new grads and so few with experience to do the job. Perhaps it is time to sell up and do locum work!

Any offers?

Re: Does anyone know any good locums?

ChrisBVSc — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:30:18 GMT

Sounds like they ought to introduce a locum fast-track course for all the surplus vet students over the next few years - problem solved for everyone!

Re: Does anyone know any good locums?

Charlotte Marshall — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:22:06 GMT

I can tell you locums are hard to find for the West Midlands too. We had a vet leave in May and offered a job to someone graduating this month we have not been able to find a locum to cover what we need we managed to get a few days via a contact one of the nurses had with someone but that was all. The boss has been getting very frustrated especially when the locum agency told him they definitely had some one accepting the job and then 15 minutes later rang to say the locum had taken a permanent job down south!

Re: Does anyone know any good locums?

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 10:29:11 GMT

[quote user="Cat Henstridge"]I agree with Neil, Martin I think you are being rather harsh![/quote] Maybe but clearly someone agreed with me. I admit to some preconceptions and bias being the owner of an independent practice but I can only go on what locums and clients have told me.

I chose not to sell to Pet4Vets as the ethos and terms and conditions did not suit my agenda. I realise that working as a locum for them is a different ball game.

Re: Does anyone know any good locums?

Cat Henstridge — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 21:20:50 GMT

I agree with Neil, Martin I think you are being rather harsh!

I have worked in a few Vets for Pets and Companion Cares and I have enjoyed them all. I have also done stints for vets who are corporate owned but not branded and they are nice as well.

Normal vets, just like you and me, work in these practices. They care about animals and want to do a good job. You having a dig at every opportunity is probably driving away their, valuable, voices in this forum.

Anyway, Hi Luke! I'm sorry but I can't help you but there are lots of locums here, I hope someone gets in touch.

Re: Does anyone know any good locums?

Neil Wheadon — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 20:31:11 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

I'm not going to tell you the name of my regular locum as I don't want to share him. But the issue may be in the practice name. I'm afraid.my impression is that locums don't want to work for corporates when they can get regular work in friendly independent practices, seeing the same support staff each time, at the same rates with no pressure to follow the corporate agenda. Or am I looking at things too idealistically?

That said isn't being part of a corporate supposed to alleviate the practicing vet from the business of recruitment/employment issues? If I sold my soul to the corporate devil and carried on working that would be one major reason for doing so.

[/quote] I work regularily for Vets4Pets and 2 use me as their regular locum. I can honestly say that in neither has anyone every had a little word in my ear about targets, selling or flogging enough wormer. in others this has also been the case. I'm not sure where the comment 'seeing the same support staff ' comes from, but both have settled enthusiastic staff. Added to this my invoices are paid quickly and the renumeration is no different to other practices. I work for Vets Now too and find much of the comments on this forum quite amusing at times in regards to the misconceptions that seem to exist. I'm doing an 7 month maternity cover for an independant at the moment and enjoying that very much as well, a spot of variety is good. Finally James Herriott Lied's comments are spot on. Neil

Re: Does anyone know any good locums?

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 19:09:08 GMT

Re: Does anyone know any good locums?

Bob Russell — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 17:56:17 GMT

Any locums looking for work here, part-time, odd days, weeks (especially October!), one-offs or regular, just write to:

The Pet Healthcare Centre, 38 Pylewell Rd, Hythe SO45 6AQ.

Not a corporate, nice staff, nice clients and a little cottage to stay in! letters will not go in the bin!!!

Sound nice?

Re: Does anyone know any good locums?

james herriot lied — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 17:51:04 GMT

Top tips for getting a locum:

1) tell your practice manager to stop throwing locums' letters away - it seems to be ridiculously common for locums to get work, through an agency, at a particular practice when they've recently mailshotted that practice independently - and the practice seems unaware. I certainly still get work offers from local practices who think I'm new on the scene - despite me having written to them at least a couple of times a year to announce my presence.

2) 10 weeks a year is attractive, but is it in entire weeks? Or is it a few days here and there, adding up? Non-consecutive weeks, especially when there are only one or two weeks' gap in between, can be quite off-putting as it makes it harder to book other work in. A few days in one week mean that the locum isn't going to be earning anything else that week - so four days' work is actually a 20% pay cut.

3) weekend work isn't attractive to anybody, as locums have family and friends too. The corporate culture sees weekends as normal working days; nobody else does.

4) local locums who work in independent practices may be cagey about also working for corporates

5) the current market is set up so that experienced locum are in demand; doubtless the shoe will be on the other foot before long. But if you want a locum, book early, be very specific about dates and duties and stick to it

6) locums are grubby, mercenary little so-and-sos: offer them a tenner more per day than the practice down the road

Re: Does anyone know any good locums?

Bob Russell — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 16:52:08 GMT

I suspect the Auzzie/NZ/South African locums were happy to do short spell locums as it allowed them to travel round the country. Now fewer of those are around (visa and exchange rate issues?) life is tougher especially for the smaller practices.

Re: Does anyone know any good locums?

Neil Wheadon — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 16:00:22 GMT

I really symphathise with practices where locums agree to come then take another offer / don't bother etc. I had an E Mail last week from a practice somewhere who had 2 weeks holiday booked in August and the locum had pulled out, how unfair is that? Conversely I've had 3 practices agree to something and then pull out. The worst was a 5 month maternity cover that turned into 5 days with a months notice. In my opinion your word is your bond, and to be fair a local locum taking a maternity contract nearby did honour 2 weeks he/she had already booked elsewhere, practices understand committment. I'm naturally biased but dealing with a locum direct and building a relationship must be the way to go, the trouble is that there are too few experienced locums out there and if my job offers are anything to go by, longer term maternity contracts are becoming more common, especially with an increase in the corporate sector. Neil

Re: Does anyone know any good locums?

Bob Russell — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:47:21 GMT

I have almost given up with locums. Last year we had everything booked well in advance and the locum pulled out, leaving us in the lurch. Bring back the antipodeans!