A good locum is never short of work because locuming is a special skill. Walking into an unknown practice to see 30 unknown patients and departing four hours later, leaving not only those patients but also the staff with positive impressions, is a challenge. But for those who can develop the flexibility, being a locum is not just satisfying, it offers an interesting way of life.
Locums forgo the traditional reward of general practice, the long-term relationship that GPs develop with patients. Patients rarely choose to see a locum.
So the task is to make the 10 minutes that you and a patient spend together rewarding for both of you. You can give patients the opportunity to tell their story afresh. At least you can offer a new view of an old problem. Perhaps you will spot a missed diagnosis.
