There are a number of risks when different healthcare professionals are involved in a patient’s care. Continuity of care can be compromised. What are the risks for locum GPs?
Continuity of care often involves seeing the same doctor each time you visit your GP surgery. It is an important part of general practice, where the patient and doctor build a relationship of trust. However, due to staff absences, developments in primary care meaning chosen GPs are not always available, and patients wanting fast access to a GP, locums are often called upon to step in.
Risks and benefits
Being a locum has its benefits, but it also has its risks, because you will more than likely not have worked at a particular GP practice before starting a locum job. It will be an unknown practice you are walking into, seeing unknown patients – your only knowledge of the patients will be what’s in the medical records, which are handed over from another GP.
