FAQ: How might the practice a GP locum works in affect locum feedback?

Practice variables that may affect how a GP locum is perceived

• What sort of practice are you locuming in, and what is the reason? Sometimes a practice may require your services because all is not well within the practice.
• Practice unable to recruit GPs?  Perhaps there’s a good reason they can’t find a suitable candidate.
• ‘Usual GP’ off sick? was it stress related due to the practice, and were they practicing at their best prior to their absence?
• Holiday? Usually a good sign, showing that the practice plans their GP cover. But if the patients have worked out that their usual GP is off for a few weeks, they may be turning up in force for a second opinion, or for an easier ride. You may be that ticket to that referral they’re desperate for, or a new GP to hoodwink into prescribing the medication that their usual GP refuses to prescribe. You may have to dash their expectations, and that never goes down well in a feedback form.
• Last-minute booking? Practices who have to call in a locum last-minute are usually running at peak capacity anyway, with little or no slack in the system. Why have they been unable to organise some internal cover if it’s that important? Is there a wider organisational issue that suggests other more fundamental issues in that practice? ‘Siege Mentality’ is the scourge of many a practice, and bodes ill for a smooth surgery.
• Maternity cover? This sounds straight forward, but realise that the normal incumbent’s usual clientele are devotees of the absent female GP and may be disappointed by middle-aged male GPs! And for some reason, maternity locums are often subject to mission creep.
• Suspended GP? This speaks for itself; if a practice has reached the point where one of its usual GPs – and this could of course include a previous locum – is suspended from work, that practice is likely to have major ongoing issues for some time whether they recognise them or not.
• Practice rarely uses GP locums? These can vary – either you’ll have the red carpet treatment and treat you like royalty, or you’ll be something the cat brought in and they won’t have a clue what to do with you. So feedback from these practices can vary enormously, from “she was a pleasure and we’re extremely grateful for the high level of care she showed”, to “Who?”.