1. Life As A Locum Dr Ajay Sharma

2. Why Locum? • Explore different practices and areas • Gain skills and experience while finding the perfect job/prefect practice • Flexibility • Income source if nothing sorted before completion

3. Preparation for locum work • Start organising well before completion of training • Look out for emails/flyers for locum work • Documents before starting work • CCT • GP Register inclusion • PCT Performers list inclusion • MDU/MPS subscription • CV focused on locuming

4. Preparation for locum work • Get Equipped • Doctor Bag • Mileage log book • Smartphone/PDA/Diary • Sat nav /A to Z • Business card • Financial stuff • Self Employed / Limited company • Accountant services • Income Protection • Bank Account/Cheque book/Pay in slips • Pension forms/paying into NHS pension

5. CV • Keep it short • Essential information • GMC Number • PCT Performers list inclusion • Contact details • Clinical systems used • Other information like CHS/DFFP/Minor surgery etc • Referees

6. Finding Work • Emails • VTS Coordinator • Practice manager • Colleagues • BMJ careers / GP magazine • Locum Agencies • Send CV with cover letter to practices in target area • Networking • Pennine YPG meeting • ? Website for locums • Be available on phone/email easily

7. Booking work • Establish details of work • Date/timings/length of session/consultation times/no of patients • Clinical system used • Visits/Admin work/On call • Rates • Get confirmation in writing and acknowledge booking it • Book work in diary/calendar immediately

8. Locum Rates • Talk to Practice manager/Trainer/Other locums to know local rates • Establish your rate • Hourly rate • Sessional rate • Day rate • Extra work – visits/on call/admin etc • Negotiation skills • Never post rates on public forums (anticompetitive)

9. Tips for day of work • Locum Pack • Common stuff like • Med3, Med5 • Investigation forms • Letter heads • Dictaphone/tapes • Computer / clinical system login details • Few phone numbers • Reception • Admin • Practice manager • Patient/Staff toilets • Tea/Coffee room • Fire alarms/exits • Panic alarms/button

10. Getting Paid • Invoicing • Last working week • Computerised • Clear details of the sessions/ work done, amount to be paid, bank account details • BACS/Cheque payments • Softwares like pennyperfect/Office accounting/Sage accounting • Pension forms • GP Locum A form

11. Management • Set time aside for managing your locum practice • Invoicing • Collate GP Locum A forms • Complete GP locum form B • Pension contribution • Keep all documentation organised for tax and pension purpose

12. Paying Taxes • Gross payments • Set aside 35-40% for tax purposes • Pay NI contributions by direct debit • Record of all business expenses (original receipts) • Keep Mileage logs • Accountant

13. CPD/Revalidation • NHS Appraisals Toolkit • Reflective log of educational events/courses/meetings • Significant events/Audits/complaints • Appraisal • Book courses/education events in your calendar to avoid clashing with session bookings

14. Holidays • Block days in Diary/calendar well in advance • Essential to destress yourselves

15. Pitfalls of Locuming • Isolation • Appraisal difficulties • Patient feedback • Peer reviews • Audits • Prescribing data • PCT communication • No Sickness/maternity benefits

16. Useful Links • Register as Self Employed • http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/iwtregister-as-self-employed.htm • NHS Pensions – GP Locums • http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/2665.aspx • National Association of Sessional GPs • http://www.nasgp.org.uk/

17. Thankyou.