Let down by a locum

RE: Let down by a locum

Bob Russell — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 17:07:16 GMT

Locum agencies have so many escape clauses built in that a practice is likely to be bogged down with contract law if they were to try to follow this up.

Contracts are so heavily weighted that I doubt they would be considered fair in a court of law.

The practice has to pay whatever but the locum agency does not have to compensate ever!

RE: Let down by a locum

david kemp — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 16:40:59 GMT

I have locumed and been an employer using locums. A self employed locum often working through a limited company has accepted a contract. If they are unable to fulfil that contract it is THEIR responsibility to provide an alternative person. Your order from wholesaler WILL turn up if the delivery driver has gone sick-it is their responsibility to put a relief driver on. If you want to be self-employed and charge £x per day you do have some responsibility to the company you have accepted work from. I once turned up for a 3 month locum to be informed that they had employed someone!! But they still kept me on for three months to honour the deal and gave me another three months!

RE: Let down by a locum

Joyce Whitehead — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 17:15:35 GMT

We had this situation with a vet locum some years ago. First time we had booked a 2 week holiday for many years as we are both vets, and a small practice, who see both horses and small animals, so locums are hard to find. So I found a locum around 5 months before, confirmed several times by email, then things went quiet. So about 4 weeks before we went away I contacted her, and she said she had taken a position near her home. I’m not sure if she intended to tell us or not. Our staff were fantastic and spent a day phoning round, and eventually managed to get enough cover so we could get away. It was a close run thing though. Most of the agencies when we told them the story asked her name so they could note her actions too.

Im happy to say we now have a couple of part time vets who can cover when we go away, makes life much less stressful for us.

RE: Let down by a locum

Julie Innes — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 16:49:27 GMT

I live in fear of this! I generally use locums I have used before and know, as I need reliability. As a practice owner I only take 3 weeks a year holiday and those 3 weeks are precious to me and my family. Being let down by a locum 9 days beforehand would be hugely stressful to me, although I understand there can be mitigating circumstances. I often book my holiday around when I can book a locum!

RE: Let down by a locum

John Wessels — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 12:20:27 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

[quote user="Sarah Keir"]We don't know why nurse cancelled the work so should not jump to judgement - maybe it was for a family emergency or their own wellness. Empathy and compassion starts with trying to understand the other sides point of view of the situation.[/quote]

That's as maybe, fair enough.

An explanation and an apology would not be too much to ask for though.

[/quote]

That 's not going to help you though.....

RE: Let down by a locum

Bob Russell — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 12:00:17 GMT

In preparation for one of my rare holidays, we booked a locum well in advance.

She cancelled months ahead because she had hurt her hand!! I suggested we waited to see if her hand was better but the answer was no.

I am sure she had a longer or better offer via the agency used. No effort at all from the agency to find us a replacement.

RE: Let down by a locum

Clive Ansell — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 10:35:38 GMT

That's as maybe, fair enough.

An explanation and an apology would not be too much to ask for though.

RE: Let down by a locum

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 10:28:15 GMT

Well, if I thought that was a possibility, I wouldn't have shared the thought. But in this case, the vet told me that the nurse had simply had a more convenient offer closer to home. He said the nurse was not remotely apologetic about cancelling, saying that he/she had been let down by practices enough times that he/she felt it was quite fair to behave the same way.

It's one story. I'm sure we've all heard similar ones (I have). I just thought the vet's thought was a useful one to share.

RE: Let down by a locum

Clive Ansell — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 10:26:10 GMT

It seems to happen fairly often. I've had many calls requesting cover at short notice because another locum has cancelled last minute.

It is not acceptable (without good reason) and is unprofessional.

I've been a locum 18 years, and have never reneged on an agreement. My standard T&C's are a calendar months notice from either party, although sometimes a practice owner will want an assurance that I will not cancel, and I'm happy to do that.

I have sometimes overbooked myself, booked work that I wish that I hadn't, or better work has come along after booking a slot. I've never cancelled and have always seen the work through.

I've missed 3 days in 18 years; 2 through illness, an acute gastritis bug, and one though an international flight home being delayed.

I have twice cancelled work giving well in excess (> 3 months) of the agreed notice. Both were because of illness in other family members.

It can work the other way round too. I've been cancelled by practices 3 times. Twice were sole charge positions in independent practices, where there was good reason. The practice owner on both occasions offered to pay me in full, which I declined because there were valid reasons for the cancellations. One of the corporates once cancelled a 21 day booking at 3 days notice without reason, even in breach of their own contract, so I therefore successfully pursued it as a debt.

RE: Let down by a locum

Sarah Keir — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 10:17:25 GMT

We don't know why nurse cancelled the work so should not jump to judgement - maybe it was for a family emergency or their own wellness. Empathy and compassion starts with trying to understand the other sides point of view of the situation.