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rLocums Blog
rLocums.com is the place for GP practices to find locums near them.
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Dear RLocums Users,
Today I'm pleased to bring you some exciting news about RLocums.
After 5 years of working towards the same goal (sometimes in the same part of the country), we have been acquired by former competitor Network Locum; a company that also set out to radically transform the way the healthcare profession works together.
The friendly nature of the takeover reflects the shared vision between the two companies. We'll be working closely with their CEO Melissa Morris and the Network Locum team to build an even stronger network, one that benefits users even more and provides a service for the NHS above and beyond that which both platforms currently offer.
But what does this mean for you now? Well, in practice, not a huge amount!
If you are a GP, it's good news only, you will benefit from Network Locum's wider community and educational offerings, such as CPD events and social media support networks
Other than that, it's important to note that for the foreseeable future, nothing will change for users of either platform, this includes pricing, service levels or day to day contacts. For Practice Managers, things will be staying the same.
Network Locum are committed to a stable and thorough path for integration, one which respects users wishes, they will likely be in touch to gather feedback on this and talk to you.
As for us, we would like to thank every single one of our users for helping us along the way. We are proud of the product we built and are pleased that we are leaving it in very capable hands.
We're really excited for the next chapter of RLocums and we'll be helping the Network Locum team to build the best possible product for you.
Please don't hesitate to get in touch with the RLocums team if you have any questions. They'll still be very happy to help.
Best wishes
Dr Steve Leung
Founder, RLocums
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Hello Everyone!
With Santa almost here, we wanted to send a extra special warm XMas greeting to all of our valued users. Without your support we would not be where we are - the go-to platform for locum bookings!
Christmas and New Year Opening
We're open between 29-31 December and also from 4th Jan although we'll be rather merry (!!) so it might take us a little longer to answer your queries. For anything urgent please phone us on 0116 350 0046. We're closed on Christmas Day, 28th December and New Year Day.
Book ahead for January 2016
If you haven't booked your locum work yet for January you can do some last minute locum booking online. Login here.
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RLocums Mobile is here!
Fantastic news! We’re delighted to announce the launch of the RLocums mobile site.
It’s been in development for some time and is very exciting that it’s finally ready. We think it will help you find and manage locum work on the move even easier than before.
Using RLocums Mobile.
The best part is that there is nothing to download. Simply visit the RLocums website on your iPhone, Android or Windows phone.The first thing you’ll notice is the new ‘My Bookings’ screen: an improved and simplified calendar view that shows all your locum bookings. Simply tap into the sessions to see more detail.
Find work on the go.
With RLocums Mobile you’ll be able to find work easier than before. Accept sessions with just a few taps, and send messages to practices wherever you are. To get started, simply click on “Find Locum Work” once you have logged in.
Sync with your phone’s calendar.
You can sync your RLocums sessions with your phone’s calendar. Once subscribed, all your locum bookings, along with session times and surgery address will appear in your phone’s calendar. You can even get travel distance and map directions if your phone supports it. All future sessions will automatically be sync’ed without you having to do a thing. Simply tap the “Subscribe to calendar” link at the top right menu after logging in.
Click here to visit the new mobile site.
We hope you enjoy the site and if you have any questions or feedback please feel free to get in touch!
The RLocums Team
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Don't tell anyone... Practice Management October magazine
Can you keep a secret?
Yep, your favourite locum website, RLocums, is featured on the October edition of Practice Management magazine!
We've got permission from them to send you a sneaky preview link to it :) It even has a mug shot of our medical director, Dr Steve Leung!
Click on the link below:
http://rlocums.com/PMOct
Enjoy - and feel free to share with your colleagues who might be interested!
If your practice is needing locums in the coming weeks or months, look no further. Put your sessions on the largest GP locum website online and let the locums come to you - or feel free to call us on 0116 350 0046 and speak to one of our account managers.
The RLocums Team
http://rlocums.com
Get a free iPad! If you know locums who might be benefit from the popular RLocums system, please spread the word! As a thank you, you'll give you an iPad for every 3 friends you refer. http://rlocums.com/ipad
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Locum use increased again from last year, survey suggest
With ever increasing workload in primary care, GP practices are employing more locums than ever before. On average, GP locum usage has increased by 19.6%, data from a locum website has revealed.
Online locum website RLocums.com, released figures from its 5,500strong membership, finding that practices booked an average of 110 hours of locum work on the website in 2014/15 compared with 92 hours in 2013/14.
The company has found that despite a minor increase of 1.6% compared to 2014, average GP locum rates across the UK has remained broadly the same at £83.69/hr.
More GPs are choosing to supplement their salaried/partnership income with locum work. RLocums data reveal that on average GPs earn £7,600 per year doing additional locum work, an increase of £1,900 (33%) compared to last year.
The site’s founder Dr Steve Leung, a GP in Brighton, says:
“This has been a tough year for General Practice. Increased workload has prompted more GPs to retire early or resign from their salaried/partnership post. Some GPs are even thinking about emigration. This has contributed to a higher demand for locum GPs. On top of this, new GP graduates are preferring to locum due to the attractive pay, quality of life and reduced paperwork responsibilities.
“This year, we have also seen an increase in the number of career locums these are GPs who in the past may have aspired to become partners or have the stability of salaried positions now preferring to work fulltime on a freelance basis. This may be because it is now easier to fill your calendar with sites like RLocums, so finding enough locum work to give a stable income is no longer a concern. Moreover, I think people genuinely enjoy the freedom and flexibility that being a locum brings.”
RLocums has surveyed GPs on the ground and found that the below quotes reflective of the general sentiment of the current locum market:
“It’s never been a better time to be a sessional or locum GP.”
GP locum from London
“Hard work as a partner, finding it hard to replace a partner... Long hours, tons of work and less money.”
GP Partner from Manchester
“I resigned my partnership due to excessive workload, 1617 hour days. I am now a parttime locum and easily find enough work...”
ExPartner in Devon who is now a GP locum
RLocums is an independent website that allows surgeries and locums to book each other. Availabilities and rates are agreed directly between surgeries and GP locums. Data is therefore reflective of market trends and excludes any artificial inflation by middleman such as locum agencies.
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RLocums @ RCGP Leicester Event
We had a fantastic day at the RCGP Leicester AiT Event yesterday. It was great to speak to so many young graduating GPs, and we’re delighted to hear that RLocums as as popular as ever. Welcome to the UK’s No. 1 locum GP website!
p.s. If you missed out on the free pens, stress balls, credit-card sized USB key, etc - let us know and we’ll sort something out for you. :)
We’ll be exhibiting at the London EMedica event this Saturday 9th May - come speak to us if you’re attending and say hello!
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We wrote recently about the upcoming change of employer contributions from 14% to 14.3% from 1 April 2015. We queried whether, in the context of GP locum work, this higher rate applies to work done, as opposed to payments made, after 1 April 2015.
The NHS Pensions Authority has today confirmed the following:
The ruling regarding the 14.3% is as follows
If the member is paid in April then the new employer and employee rates apply regardless if the work is done prior to 01/04/2015. Unfortunately if the practice only pays 14% because the member invoiced prior to 01/04/2015 then the member will have to pay the additional .3% and then ask the practice for it to be paid back to him.
The new locum forms will reflect this and they will have an example on them. The factsheet is also being amended.
Therefore, the following will apply to all invoices on RLocums:
1) Employers are encouraged to pay any outstanding invoices before 1 April 2015
2) At midnight on 1 April 2015, all unpaid invoices involving pension contributions will be automatically updated to use the new 14.3% rate. If making payments after 1 April 2015 please make sure you log in and download the latest invoices.
Apart from this, there is nothing you need to do differently. We will handle the new updated pension forms A and B automatically.
Feel free to let us know if you have any questions, otherwise we hope you have a great day!
RLocums Team
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Hope you are well and enjoyed the 'eclipse' of the sun today!
Many of you using RLocums have asked what you need to do about the upcoming changes... so here it is!
Background
The Dept of Health has announced that from 1 April 2015, the employer's contribution rate will change from 14% to 14.3% in respect of all NHS Pension Scheme members. Employee contribution tiered rates are to remain the same.
What you need to do...
Short answer: Nothing (for now!) - RLocums should be able to handle all changes for you and we will let you know if anything is needed
Employers may wish to pay any existing locum invoices before 1 April 2015 as there is a possibility that any payments made after 1/4/15 will need to be 0.3% higher. (see below)
Long(er) answer:
The changes will obviously mean significant changes to Locum Form A and B, as well as invoices that include employer pension contributions.
As RLocums is a one-stop shop for handling locum invoicing and pension forms, we are in contact with the NHS Pensions Authority regarding the transitional arrangements with regards to the pension changes. We will let you know what these are as soon as we receive confirmation from NHSPA.
Locum GPs
RLocums will generate new Locum A and B forms for you when they become available from NHSPA. You will receive a 0.3% increase in employers contribution. It is unclear whether these should be applied only invoices from 1/4/15 or whether this includes older invoices which are paid after 1/4/15. As soon as we receive confirmation from NHSPA we will notify you and make the appropriate changes to your invoices/forms so there should be no need for you to do anything.
If you do not pension your income there is no need to do anything and these changes will not affect you.
Employers / GP Surgeries
It is unclear whether the higher 14.3% rate should be applied only invoices from 1/4/15 or whether this includes older invoices which are paid after 1/4/15. We are currently awaiting NHSPA confirmation, who are themselves awaiting confirmation from Dept of Health.
In order to avoid the higher 14.3% rate, we recommend that employers pay their existing invoices before 1 April 2015. It is possible that from 1 April 2015, all pensionable invoices will have to be updated to include the higher employer contribution rate. An alternative scenario is that invoices can stay as they are but then that would cause complexities in Locum Form B which would then have a mixture of rates.
NHS PA update notice: https://rlocums.com/nhspa1
We will keep you up-to-date as we receive more information about transitional arrangements.
RLocums Team
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RLocums featured on the BBC
GP Shortages made headlines on prime time TV today. The BBC spoke to RLocums to understand how locum GPs are fully qualified doctors that can help surgeries alleviate this problem.
As one of UK’s largest online locum website, our data revealed that locum GPs are an increasingly popular and cost effective choice for surgeries to provide extra GP appointments.
Locum quality has also improved, with 93.9% of surgeries happy to ‘recommend’ or ‘highly recommend’ doctors found through RLocums.
Have a great day!
RLocums Team
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Developing a career as a Portfolio GP
by Dr Mahibur Rahman
You may have heard the term “portfolio GP” more frequently over the last few years. This is an umbrella term used to describe any GP that has multiple jobs or that does multiple types of work within their working week. Most portfolio GPs have a primary job – this could be a partnership, a part time salaried position or being a locum GP, with one or more additional jobs in their portfolio.
Many GPs develop a portfolio over time almost by accident – what starts as a one off extra session working in a prison for example can become an interesting part of the regular working week.
The range of additional jobs that you might develop an interest in as part of your portfolio is huge – from developing a specialist interest, to taking on a management role as part of the CCG. Some of the more flexible additions to a portfolio especially when starting out can include:
Medical Education
Forensic Medical Examiner
Prison Doctor
In this article I will discuss these options in a bit more detail.
Medical Education
There are various ways to become involved in medical education, from the occasional teaching and supervision of medical students on placement at the practice to becoming a GP trainer or Training Programme Director. Teaching can be very rewarding, as well as acting as a stimulus to refresh your own knowledge and to keep up to date.
Teaching Medical Students and Foundation Trainees
Most medical schools require doctors that will be teaching students on placement to attend a short training course (often over 1 or 2 days), and then to attend annual training days. Beyond this, you will not need to have any formal medical education qualifications. For teaching Foundation trainees, most deaneries require a similar amount of training.
Clinical Tutor
Many medical schools recruit qualified GPs to become clinical tutors to facilitate small group teaching, or teach clinical and communication skills for undergraduates at the medical school. Having experience in teaching will make you a more attractive candidate, and medical schools often offer further in house training as well as support to complete a postgraduate certificate or diploma in medical education. Time requirements are usually 1-2 sessions a week.
GP Trainer
The requirements to become a GP trainer vary by deanery, although there are some requirements that are fairly common throughout:
MRCGP – either by examination or via portfolio
Training in teaching – either a trainers’ course or a postgraduate certificate or diploma in medical education.
Experience – the minimum post CCT experience varies from 2 years to 5 years.
There are also requirements that need to be met in relation to the training practice. A trainer would usually need to put aside the equivalent of 2 sessions a week to allow time for supervision, tutorials and ongoing workshops for trainers.
Training Programme Director
Programme Directors (formerly known as VTS Course Organisers) have responsibility for organising the regular teaching for Speciality Training schemes, as well as supporting trainers. Programme Directors are usually appointed via deaneries, and again requirements vary across the county, although most require experience of teaching and a formal postgraduate qualification in medical education at diploma or Masters level. Many Programme Directors are experienced trainers. The time commitment required is usually equivalent to 2 sessions a week or more. In many areas with larger training schemes, there are multiple Programme Directors for the same area.
Forensic Medical Examiner
Forensic Medical Examiners (formerly Police Surgeons) work with police forces to provide assessment and treatment to victims of crime and persons in custody. Many FMEs are GPs that work with the police as an additional role. The work can be interesting and varied, and will include assessment and treatment of injuries, minor illness, sudden illness in custody, and assessment of victims of sexual assault. Most FMEs work as part of a group of doctors that provide cover for one or more police stations day and night. A lot of the time you may be able to be on call from home, with extra fees payable for each visit to the station. Another aspect of the work of the FME involves giving evidence in court.
Initial training usually lasts a week, and the training is organised by the host police force, or in some cases private companies contracted by the police force. Costs for training vary from being provided free to around £800. Once the training is complete, doctors will usually be contracted to work on a self employed basis, with payments for being on call, and extra payments for each visit to the station for assessments, for completing reports, and for each attendance at court.
There is an ongoing requirement to keep up to date, with at least 24 hours of CPD in clinical forensic medicine. While being an FME can be exciting, it is also very challenging, and will not suit everyone.
Prison Doctor
There are currently over 140 prisons in the UK, and every single one requires cover from clinicians to look after the welfare of the inmates. In many prisons, regular surgery sessions are offered by GPs from local practices that have contracted to offer cover. Most prisons will also require sessional and on call cover from GPs on a freelance basis.
GPs do not need to have any extra qualifications to work in prisons, although having the RCGP Drug Misuse Management Certificate Part 1 is advantageous and may mean you are more employable.
The work is similar to working in practice, although you may have additional security present or nearby when consulting with certain patients. A larger proportion of your patients may have mental health needs, and a significant proportion may be using or have used illicit drugs. You may also need to assess inmates with injuries or those that have attempted to self-harm or take an overdose. Where necessary, you may need to arrange for transfers to hospital for further care. Prison work can be very challenging, but also offers an opportunity to improve the healthcare of vulnerable patients. One thing it won’t be is boring!
Variety is the spice of life
These are just a few examples of some of the options you might build into your career as a portfolio GP. I know GPs that work as civilian medical practitioners on military bases, work as team doctors for sporting clubs, are involved with the air ambulance or emergency services One of the great things about being a portfolio GP is that working in different roles can help keep you stimulated and reduce the chances of burnout. I find that for me, it really is true that “a change is as good as a rest”!
Life After CCT: GP Careers Course
If you are a newly qualified GP and a GP registrar coming to the end of GP Specialty Training, you may be interested in attending to the “Life after CCT: GP Careers Course”. This is a 1 day course to help you plan your career after CCT. You will learn how to:
Create a great CV to get you shortlisted
Prepare for GP job interviews
Succeed as a GP Locum
Understand salaried GP contracts and job plans
Understand practice accounts and partnership agreements
Consider alternative GP jobs - working abroad, portfolio careers, developing a special interest.
The course is worth 6.5 CPD Credits. Full details of the course at http://www.emedica.co.uk/cct
RLocums members will get a £95 discount on the price of the course by using the code “rlocums”
Dr Mahibur Rahman is a portfolio GP and the medical director of Emedica. He is the Author of “GP Jobs - A Guide to Career Options in General Practice”. He will be teaching at the Life after CCT: GP Careers course which includes a session with practical advice about developing a portfolio career.
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Top 3 Financial Advisors for GPs
We know that this is a sore point for a lot of our users so we thought we'd spend the time trawling through the web to find you the best financial advice specifically catered for doctors.
1. AISMA - Association of Independent Specialists Medical Accountants
This is a network of over 75 accountancy firms providing expert advice to medical practices, sessional GPs and hospital doctors . You can use the search widget on their frontpage to search and find an accountant in your local area. They also hold free events on useful topics such as tax changes to GP pensions, and tweet more financially savvy tweets then you can shake a stick at.
2. BMA
All BMA members are eligible to receive financial advice from a dedicated team of independent specialist advisers. The Initial consultation is free - call on 0845 609 2008 for more information.
3. Wesleyan Society
The Wesleyan society have been providing Specialist Financial Advice for GPs for over 120 years. Your initial free consultation can range between half an hour to 2 hours long and this can be done over the phone or by email. There's also a live chat function to the Customer Services team if you get stuck.
That’s it on the financial side!
For everything else, you can call us on 0116 350 0046, Mon - Fri, 8:30am - 5:00pm
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How to Sync RLocums Cal to Google Cal
1. Subscribe Calendar
Log in, and under the 'My bookings' tab, where your calendar is, click on the 'Subscribe to this Calendar' link.
2. Copy the URL
You should see the following window pop outs depending on the browser you are using
GOOGLE CHROME
Copy the link as shown with the red arrow
FIREFOX
You will get a prompt to choose a calendar application. Copy the link that appears when the app has been launched
IE
Similar thing to Google Chrome - copy the link in the pop out window
3. Link to Google Cal
Log into your Google Cal and under the 'Other Calendars' section, select 'Add by URL' from the dropdown menu
Please note that your RLocums Calendar is the 'parent' calendar that pulls the sessions through to your Google Calendar copy.
That’s it!
Don’t forget that we are only a phone call away if you need support or guidance on this or any other part of our website! Our helpdesk is open Mon - Fri, 8:30am - 5:00pm
RLOCUMS HELPDESK NUMBER - 0116 350 0046
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How to Prepare for a Session
1. Hours
Ensure you have negotiated the correct hours
2. Content
Ensure that you establish what is and what is not covered in your session
3. Patients
Establish how many patients will be seen in a session (this will build in rest time)
4. Rates
Establish rates for different sessions you do (extended, on call, home visits)
5. Invoices
Advise on details of acceptable timeframes for the payment of invoices (also specify when you will invoice the practice. Don’t forget to refer to our How to Guide on How to get Paid on RLocums)
6. Running Overtime
Advise on an overrun policy (i.e. whether this is extra)
7. Admin
Establish time needed for administrative tasks
8. Research
Try to find out as much as you can about the practice ahead of time, name of the practice manager, GP Partners there etc. Does the practice have a Locum Induction pack? It’s worth trying to get a hold of it if they do.
9. IT
Additionally, familiarise yourself with the IT system there, ahead of time if possible
“I have at times in the past attended the day before if it’s a local practice and spent a prearranged 1-2 hours familiarising myself with a ‘new’ system. This is a very worthwhile personal investment and reduces greatly the stresses of your first few sessions on said system that are likely if this is not done.”
(Dr Simon Wade)
10. Equipment
Establish what medical equipment you will need to bring and what the practice will provide e.g. auroscope, peak flow meter, blood oxygen saturation monitor. Ensure that your own medical equipment is in good working order!
11. Getting to work
Ensure that you allow plenty of time to get there and check ahead to prepare for any transport issues
12. You are not just a locum!
And finally, remember that you are not just a locum!
“Believe in yourself as a fully qualified and professional GP. Never think of yourself as ‘just a locum’. That ten minutes that patient has with you will have an effect on their life forever, so for those ten minutes you’re their most important person in their world, so you have to do your best.”
(NASGP CEO, Dr Richard Fieldhouse)
[Sources - Medical Protection.Org The Five Essential Pillars for Buildings a Successful and Sustainable Career as a GP Locum or Sessional Doctor]
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How to get Paid as a GP on RLocums
1. (Confirm your) Timesheet
RLocums will automatically populate an electronic timesheet for you after your have completed a session. We will then prompt you via email to log in, check and confirm this timesheet with a click of a button.
2. Invoice
Once you’ve confirmed your timesheet, we will automatically generate an invoice and send it to the practice on your behalf. We will also send payment reminders to practices to save you the hassle of chasing up invoices. There is no charge for this service as it is already included in the fees.
3. Payment
When the practice pays an invoice, you will be notified by email and the money will arrive in your bank account in approximately 24 hours, as shown in the bank account section of your page.
That’s it!
Don’t forget that we are only a phone call away if you need support or guidance on this or any other part of our website! Our helpdesk is open Mon - Fri, 830am - 5pm
RLOCUMS HELPDESK NUMBER - 0116 350 0046
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How to leave Feedback for a Locum in 5 Easy Steps
Leaving feedback for a locum on RLocums is really so simple!
1. Email Notification
* Read the email notification telling you that you can now leave feedback for a locum
2. Sign In
Sign into your RLocums account
3. Invoices Tab
Click on the 'Invoices' tab
4. Feedback Req Button
Click on the orange 'Feedback Required'
5. Feedback
Leave feedback per category
That’s it!
Don’t forget that we are only a phone call away if you need support or guidance on this or any other part of our website! Our helpdesk is open Mon - Fri, 8:30am - 5:00pm
RLOCUMS HELPDESK NUMBER - 0116 350 0046
*Our system will automatically prompt you to leave feedback for a particular GP via the email notification in step 1. Please note that this notification is not the feedback form itself!
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How to book Locums for Christmas & NY
Someone once said that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and this is all the more true in the run up towards Christmas. So while you're busy greasing up them squeaky wheels, all those other things - like booking Christmas cover - fall by the wayside.
Here are our RLocums tips on how to get Locum cover for Christmas and the New Year.
1. Book Early
Get organised early! Set reminders on Outlook or even on your mobile! The internet is also rife with reminder tools where you just plug in the task, due by date and receiving email address. Try pleasenotifyme - it doesn't need you to create an account and will send daily email reminders until you click the link to say task completed!
2. Don't Leave it until the Last Minute
Never underestimate the power of a well placed post-it note or two.
3. Book that Locum
Once you've had a locum/s respond to your sessions, ensure that you book a locum as soon as possible. Don't leave it too long or they will find placements with other surgeries!
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Top 5 Bizarro A&E Admittances
5 - BLUE JEANS
Did you hear the one about the girl who checked herself in at A&E because he hand had turned blue? Turned out it was the dye on her jeans that had rubbed off on her skin.
4 - YOU MIGHT NEED TO SIT DOWN FOR THIS
Chairs seem to be an issue; around 12,000 of us were admitted to A&E after falling off one last year.
3 - ZERO GRAVITY
Also in the same year, 4 people were admitted for an illness resulting from 'staying too long in a weightless environment’. It transpired that they had all taken zero-gravity space simulation flights.
2 - MILKSHAKE
"I was making a milkshake or something with one of those handheld blenders and after I finished I decided to lick the blade (like people lick spoons after mixing a cake) and accidentally pressed the 'on' button.
I didn't feel any pain, it was total shock. The worse thing about it was that as my brother tried to help me get the blade off my tongue, he accidentally switched the thing on aswell.
I drank soup through a straw for weeks."
(Anon)
1 - FATHER CHRISTMAS
A bit of an urban legend amongst A&E staff, the story goes that a man once decided to deliver his christmas presents the traditional way - through the chimney.
"He though he'd be very sensible and tie a rope round his waist. He tied the other end of the rope to the bumper of his car and climbed up onto the roof, where he was merrily putting the presents down the chimney when his wife got into the car and drove it off." (Mike Lambert at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital)
Apparently the man was not badly injured.
[Sources - Huff Post/BBC News/Metro.co.uk]
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