Where have all the locums gone?

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

sophia guymer — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:22:03 GMT

Only just found this post, I just started a new one, we are having trouble with locum too. I am rather more worried than I already was now, I assumed the problem was local but obviously I was sadly mistaken!!

O well, may be next year.

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

Joyce Whitehead — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:43:41 GMT

Thanks Wren

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

Wren — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:03:06 GMT

Pleased to hear it! Would like to have helped out somehow but the boss is away that week anyway and I'm not sure he'd have taken too kindly to it.

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

Joyce Whitehead — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:45:19 GMT

Thank you to everyone for their kind words and support - it has been a difficult and stressful few weeks, but I am very pleased to say we have managed to make contact with a locum who has worked for us in the past, and she has managed to jig things around to cover the week.

We only heard definitely tonight, which is cutting it fine as we go at the end of next week, but are mightily relieved to be getting a break.

I hope all of us manage a good holiday this year!

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

scarlet — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:35:19 GMT

i think there are so many permanent jobs at present that locums are being offered good money to take them! i have locumed for 6 years now and have several job offers a day - permanent and locum! however its the usual story everyone wants locums in june july august so in nov jan and feb things can be quite dead. obviously xmas is also very busy. and also locums like to have a summer holiday too!

sorry i cant help either as am filling in for a locum who said she was going as had been offered a permanent job only 2 wks into the long term locum position!!

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

Bob Russell — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:11:27 GMT

The UK Border Agency are being politically driven to limit immigration and visas and the government have put many hoops in place that foreign workers (including Aussies!) have to jump through to get visas.

My views on the UKBA are absolutely unprintable so will be kept to myself!

The 'weak' pound has made working in the UK much less desirable financially. I suspect the combination of the two mean non-EU locums will be as rare as hens teeth.

As we are training so many vets in the UK and EU vets can work here there should not be a shortage of locums really.

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

patrick murphy — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:51:25 GMT

exactly. while awaiting something the other day, I ran into an old friend's wife who told me that he has done exactly that, and his qualified daughter anf son did not want to carry the torch and are working elsewhere.

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

Clive Ansell — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:41:08 GMT

Alternatively, spend some time looking for a good reliable dependable home grown locum that will not let you down.

I have been a locum for 10 years in August, and have never reneged on an agreement and have never missed a days work in 15 years as a vet.

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

Joyce Whitehead — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:19:52 GMT

Thanks for asking anyway Patrick - it doesn't sound easy for these locums to come here now. Maybe we should get rid of the practice and locum ourselves?

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

patrick murphy — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:17:40 GMT

ny Canadian locum missed the youth mobility scheme by 2 weeks. she then had to apply for a visa, which was when it was in the papers, and it cost her in excess of $1200 cdn, just to ask the question. on top of that, despite being highly skilled, with 2 degrees a BSc and a DVM, which they consider to only have the weight of one university degree, jobs to come to, and at that time was making over $450 cdn per day, and they treated with lots of bureaucracy adn a distinct lack of bad manners. maybe that somewhat helps explain.

I also had lined up an Australian who was on $65 Aus/ hour, ouch, and I called for a reference and they said itt was true and tha he was worth it.

maybe the relevant organisitons could appeal to the authorities to explain that they are very important to us in order to funtion well and balance the labour market at peak times (like fruit pickers) who have no such problems.

since being here she has been completely innundated with work, and although I asked her for the poor couple in Yorkshire, she was aready booked.

patrick

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

Mark Frost — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 02:02:28 GMT

Afraid I also can't help... I'm looking for locum work but in Australia currently!! Interesting situation as I am struggling to find much work over here, I think in part because fewer locals are going abroad with the strong dollar. The exchange rates are making everything seem very very expensive over here, but of course the dollars that I can earn are worth more back home in the UK...

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

Joyce Whitehead — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 22:31:10 GMT

Thanks for all the good wishes folks - we are going to Puglia Evelyn, new to us, we've only been to Tuscany before. I do feel slightly better about it today as our staff are being so supportive, and doing all they can to help us find someone.

It is interesting about the Australian situation - we have had some excellent Aussie vets as locums over the years, but haven't had many put forward by agencies recently (when they are emailing on spec I mean). I guess the currency situation may well be affecting us too.

Back on the phones tomorrow I guess!

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

CatherineThomas — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 22:06:02 GMT

We had an australian locum with us for a while until her visa ran out. She wanted to stay and continue locuming but the type of visa she was on has been abolished and they haven't created a new one to replace it. I don't know any mroe details than that. The only way she could stay was to have a practice sponser her and she didn't want this as she wanted to move around. Maybe this has something to do with why there are fewer foreign locums?

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

Clive Ansell — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 09:21:16 GMT

I hope you manage to get sorted out, but whatever happens go off and enjoy your holiday. I would offer to help, but I am fully booked until October.

One of the agencies was telling me recently that she had far fewer foreign locums on her books this year, which maybe related to the weakening of Stirling against other currencies; for example a pound now only gets you 1.5 Aussie dollars, or 1.12 Euros.

For me, it is the busiest time of year with regulars taking summer holidays etc.

My standard T&C's allow for a months calender notice to cancel a booking, although in some cases I have promised not to cancel because of single man practice owners booking flights etc.

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

Alan Tevendale — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 09:05:44 GMT

ps enjoy your holiday and wedding anniversary

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

Alan Tevendale — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 09:04:45 GMT

I've recently found myself in a similar situation. One of the other partners is off after having a hip replacement. I thought we'd get a locum in to cover her weeks off. It's been a nightmare. It took weeks of phoning friends, multiple agencies, adverts here and posts on facebook to even find cover for some of the weeks.

We've now got a locum starting on tuesday for 4 days but until now we've been at least 2 vets down (sickness and holiday) and everyone else has been really feeling it. Another locum for the last 3 weeks in July should also help.

My point however in agreement with the OP is that locums do seem to be extremely difficult to find right now. Is there something I don't know about?

Re: Where have all the locums gone?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 22:34:47 GMT

Sorry I can't help you directly – although it sounds a lovely position, and I'd love to come to help, I would have to find a locum for me...... But: whatever you do, do not come home early.

Could you not, for one week, rearrange things and scale them down to the point where your third vet can manage? One week of disruption won't destroy your practice: I too have worried about the same thing, but the worry was unfounded. Maybe your neighbour practices could cover a bit, just this once? I found my neighbours happy to oblige when in similar dire straits.

Do not cut the holiday short. A week is not enough, especially in Italy. Where are you going?