Hiring a locum isn’t always as easy as you might think. Money, geography, market forces and even social factors all contribute to instability in this area, so you need to be aware of all the factors that are working both for and against you. Are you in an area that attracts people looking for work? Can you afford the rates expected from you? There is often a greater need for locums than there are locums looking for work, so be prepared, in a worst-case scenario, for some intense competition.

You will have to weigh up your budget before you begin the process. Placing an ad is not always expensive, but how many people will see it? Newsletters and magazines with a wide circulation are the sort of things you’re looking for, and ideally you should be placing your ads in more than one publication. Consider what you’re going to put in your ad and the sort of tone you’re going to use – something very professional, or something open and friendly? A combination of both usually does the trick, so get a good writer on it.

In your ad, mention the perks that could attract a locum. If they’re going to be living in an area that has a lot to offer – natural beauty, historical significance, anything of the sort – be sure to mention it. Mention the pay that a potential locum could expect, too – check to see what competing businesses offer and match it. Not everyone becomes a locum for the money, but it’s always going to be a factor, as it is in any job.

Make sure your ad reaches the Internet, too, even if this is just using free services like Craigslist or professional medical message boards. With social media forming a large part of job-hunting thee days, maybe even consider putting your ad on Facebook or Twitter too. Prepare yourself for a few time-wasters, but don’t forget that you’re getting yourself out to the widest audience possible and that’s exactly what you need.

You could of course consider a recruitment agency. Agencies like Ochre Recruitment (Australia and NZ), CanAm (Canada) and Medic International (UK) do the work for you in a sense, finding the best locum for the job from databases of hundreds. Naturally this comes at a price – and sometimes quite a high one – but weighing up the time saved vs the money spent, many people would agree it’s worth it.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of word-of-mouth. Mention to your fellow professionals the sort of people you’re looking for, and it’s very possible they may be able to help out.
After you’ve found a potential locum, establish a good working relationship with them from the word go. Hold interviews, face-to-face if possible, and draw up contracts for them to sign once you’ve made a decision. If you need to, look online for a contract you can adapt. Keep the locum informed about every aspect of your practice – the regular patients, the colleagues they’ll be working with, where important records are kept.
Being a locum can often be quite stressful – the temporary nature of the job, the difficulty of settling in with new co-workers, and the worries about being thought of as ‘not as good as the regular doctor’ or ‘only in it for the money’ can add to the mental workload. Be empathetic and compassionate when it comes to locums, and make sure no situation arises to cause divisions among the staff – it is common for locums to be resented due to their usually higher salaries. If you can, maybe even organise some team-building events (whether they’re advertised as such or not!) to allow everyone to get to know each other and minimise difficulties that may arise.

If you know you’re going to rely on locums more in the future, make absolutely sure they have a good experience, both professionally and socially. If they do, you’ll be able to call on them if their services are needed again, saving you having to go back to advertising for another one.
Finding a good locum will take either time or money – but probably not both. Decide which one, and if you’re knowledgeable and careful than hiring a locum doctor should not be too difficult.