Locum rates

RE: Locum rates

Robin Grimmer — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 20:07:29 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]

[quote user="julie turner"]'I've also just gone back to being self-employed, having been a Ltd Company for 5 years.' What made you go back, if you don't mind me asking you?[/quote]

The chancellor's changes on taxing dividend income?

[/quote]

Not so much of a big deal for me, as you can pay yourself a small salary tax and NI free (currently 8k pa) plus the first 5k of dividends are tax free. If your turnover is higher then it will hit you harder.

RE: Locum rates

Rob Loxley — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 18:08:01 GMT

[quote user="julie turner"]'I've also just gone back to being self-employed, having been a Ltd Company for 5 years.' What made you go back, if you don't mind me asking you?[/quote]

The chancellor's changes on taxing dividend income?

RE: Locum rates

Robin Grimmer — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 15:25:05 GMT

[quote user="julie turner"]

'I've also just gone back to being self-employed, having been a Ltd Company for 5 years.' What made you go back, if you don't mind me asking you?

[/quote]

I resented parting with a significant chunk of my earnings to pay an accountant to do a not very good job. I already have to a self assessment tax return anyway so the self employment will just be included in this.

RE: Locum rates

Julie Turner — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 15:08:04 GMT

Brilliant summary of the positives!

Having enough to live on is the main concern I think.

RE: Locum rates

Julie Turner — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 14:59:16 GMT

Alison, speaking for myself only, I charge according to the hours required and how busy/frenetic it is, not whether private or corporate and if I like a practice I will go back (if asked!). I value my quality of life even when at work and love friendly functional practices. Makes our job less hard, doesn't it?

regards

julie

RE: Locum rates

Julie Turner — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 14:47:08 GMT

Chris I think most of us vets are worth at least 4 times what we are paid...comparison with our medical colleagues supports that.

What we can charge is quite another matter!

['But if you can charge 275 and you're worth it then why not!']

RE: Locum rates

Julie Turner — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 14:38:47 GMT

I think the baby boomers were before my time!

Not complaining, just communicating:-)

RE: Locum rates

Julie Turner — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 14:36:08 GMT

'I've also just gone back to being self-employed, having been a Ltd Company for 5 years.' What made you go back, if you don't mind me asking you?

RE: Locum rates

Utlendigur — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 14:30:11 GMT

[quote user="julie turner"]So, what with the lower pay, no sick or holiday leave, age discrimination, what do we have that is positive? [/quote]

More time off (if you want it), more flexibility - no haggling over who gets which week off, no boss, opportunity to work in a variety of practices, with different vets, picking up lots of new tricks rather than wearing a rut in the same patch of lino for years, control over where/when you work, the challenge of adapting to new practices - and I can live in North Wales with time to enjoy it Wish I'd done it years ago, and personally can't see any positives in being an employee (other than regular income)

RE: Locum rates

David Mills — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 14:26:37 GMT

[quote user="julie turner"]Sounds like it Iain....I had no idea we over-50s were such high risk, and it explains the increase in indemnity fees I have experienced despite having 30-odd years of no claims, just making some worried pleas for advice when things don't go smoothly. So, what with the lower pay, no sick or holiday leave, age discrimination, what do we have that is positive? Regards Julie[/quote]

The baby boomers complaining about getting a bad deal. Now I have heard it all.

RE: Locum rates

Julie Turner — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 14:21:43 GMT

Sounds a bit low Linda, given your experience and the high cost of living in the South East.

RE: Locum rates

Julie Turner — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 14:16:34 GMT

I agree Neil, and when I ran my own practice, the good locums were like gold dust to me.

Toughest things I come across are different computer systems, not being a techie!

RE: Locum rates

Julie Turner — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 14:06:00 GMT

Hi Ut

I charge the practice my accommodation if I have to travel, but I guess North Wales is a pretty monetarily poor area....but wonderful scenery and clean air to compensate?

julie

RE: Locum rates

Julie Turner — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 14:02:40 GMT

Sounds like it Iain....I had no idea we over-50s were such high risk, and it explains the increase in indemnity fees I have experienced despite having 30-odd years of no claims, just making some worried pleas for advice when things don't go smoothly. So, what with the lower pay, no sick or holiday leave, age discrimination, what do we have that is positive? Regards Julie

RE: Locum rates

Utlendigur — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 13:10:03 GMT

I'm definitely charging on the low side too - £220-240 a day - but all are local practices, so minimal travelling and no accommodation costs, and offer fairly regular work, plus not a well-off area (North Wales).

RE: Locum rates

Iain Richards — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 09:54:45 GMT

Definitely time for me to up my fees! (£200 a day). Then again I am just a has-been mixed practice vet, and being an over-50 male puts me in the highest risk group for claims.

Perhaps I should pay my practices for training me....

RE: Locum rates

Julie Turner — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 08:58:11 GMT

That does seem low Chris, however I have noticed living costs are cheaper oop North. And I guess the Yorkshire and Scottish tight-fisted client comes into play (THAT WAS A JOKE!!!)

regards Julie

RE: Locum rates

Julie Turner — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 08:53:26 GMT

Thanks Grumpy

Yes, I am agency-free, and tend to have long relationships with practices. If it's a regularly quiet place where I get an extended break (but still available for unexpecteds), I will adjust accordingly. You are correct - it costs me to have a holiday, various professional body fees, the concern of 'letting down' a practice thro illness etc.

Many thanks for the feedback

Regards

Julie

RE: Locum rates

Julie Turner — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 08:42:17 GMT

Fuel, vehicle upkeep, professional indemnity, CPD requirements, subscription to professional bodies, RCVS registration...and so on Neil

RE: Locum rates

Neil Wheadon — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:30:55 GMT

[quote user="alison howell"]Do any locums charge differently for independent vs corporate practices[/quote]

No!!

However corporates tend to open longer, greater than a standard 10 hour day, so I am starting to take that into account.

I don't negotiate, the price is as you see it, which is fair isn't it?

Neil

RE: Locum rates

Luca Poddighe — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 13:24:14 GMT

[quote user="Linda Filshie"]£250 for up to a 10h day currently. 2003 UK grad based in SE England[/quote]

I do negotiate, but I ask the same amout. I'm a 2004 Italian Graduate with 10 years experience in UK.

RE: Locum rates

vs0u — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 12:54:43 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]Bear in mind that most independent practice's income hasn't gone up either [/quote]

Maybe true...but most practices around here are corporate now and they seem to be making plenty of money (or at least charging the clients a lot more than 5 years ago).

Do any locums charge differently for independent vs corporate practices?

RE: Locum rates

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 14:48:05 GMT

[quote user="alison howell"]I have been wondering too, as I haven't increased my rates for the last 5 years.[/quote]I offer £250/day plus accommodation. It is a very quiet practice with no OOH. I would go up to £280 if the candidate was right and reluctantly pay agency fees on top if I have to. Bear in mind that most independent practice's income hasn't gone up either and in real terms may have decreased in five years so think twice before you increase your rates.

RE: Locum rates

Richard Williams — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 22:23:39 GMT

I was quoted 305 today including agents fees. This was for an experienced Locum, but had areas of work where help would be required, English was not the first language. Accommodation would be expected on top of that, including all bills. I was also told that the candidate preferred not to do OOH.

I was underwhelmed, and no appointment was made.

RE: Locum rates

SMcelvaney — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 21:14:49 GMT

I was charging £240 per day or £25 per hour when doing short days, when I was locumming,2004 graduate with 10yrs UK experience.

It's interesting to hear what others charged, now I realise that I was at the lower end of the scale...