Locum work during pandemic

RE: Locum work during pandemic

Sal the 1st — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 14:46:18 GMT

[quote userid="2368" url="~/001/nonclinical/occupational/f/employment/31987/locum-work-during-pandemic/176122"]and our rvn locum all her work dried up.[/quote]

have heard this so many times now from different places

RE: Locum work during pandemic

Selena Carnell — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 16:34:34 GMT

we were lucky to have one locum vet and nurse with us before cover started and after furloughing some staff we really needed the locums still. Our locum vet has just accepted full time position at another vets as she can't risk having zero income potentially. and our rvn locum all her work dried up.

RE: Locum work during pandemic

Sal the 1st — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 18:07:46 GMT

locum situation - I posted my predictions on this weeks ago and so far is following what I expected - instead of agencies asking us if we have requirements they are now telling us what the have got and please take one. Two agencies have said they will reduce finders fees or delay payment of finders fees. They have had it good for too long and now they are panicking. There needs to be change with many of the agencies - there is far to much being creamed off the top to make it viable for locums looking for work or practices wishing to employ them.

With practices still having regular staff on furlough there is much less need for locum staff. The pandemic has been a game changer and its now an employers market rather than an employees. Locums that can fit in and adapt to what the practice wants rather than what they want (ie may have to cover on call, may have to work weekends) will survive those that can't well Aldi pay decent rates. 3 members of my family are working as managers in Aldi they are all on better wage than me and Aldi are currently recruiting nationwide).

Now is not a good time to leave a job and start locum work

RE: Locum

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 15:55:36 GMT

[quote userid="5723" url="~/001/nonclinical/occupational/f/employment/31987/locum/176109"]Locum work is always dependent on need so if practices are struggling financially they will try not to use locums if possible. [/quote]

Yes, and I also wonder whether this event might mark a real shift away from practices employing locums.

What I mean is that for some time now, there has been a shortage of vets and nurses, which is one of the reasons for the increase in the number of people locumming. Practices struggle to fill the full time job, so instead employ a succession of locums to full the role. On the others side of the equation, locums can work their own rota, pick who they work for, have all that variety and potentially earn more. What's not to like?

But perhaps we are going into a period of recession where there are a shortage of jobs. If that happens, then practices will fill their long term positions more easily, so there will be less locum jobs available.

If that happens, then perhaps

[quote userid="5723" url="~/001/nonclinical/occupational/f/employment/31987/locum/176109"]I would wait until things are more stable if your looking to jump from a job to locuming. [/quote]

that might be quite a way off yet??

RE: Locum

Tanya Traill — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 14:54:53 GMT

Hi I'm a part time locum nurse as I have a little boy to look after as well.

I have found as I booked shifts months in advance for a big company that does OOH nights that work has not been affected much except that when all the vets started furloughing employees some of the nurses started picking up shifts which reduced the work.

Locum work is always dependent on need so if practices are struggling financially they will try not to use locums if possible.

There are jobs coming up else where now but still few and far between.

Day practices as far as I'm aware have tried to cover gaps in house more but I would of thought in a few months things will return to normal as much as possible.

I would wait until things are more stable if your looking to jump from a job to locuming.

RE: Locum

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 10:47:41 GMT

Good question, a few locum vets told me work had stopped completely when the pandemic started. One told me the other day that work was starting to come in again now. Would be very interesting to know how it is affecting you guys.

Also, what you think the longer term prospects are for veterinary nurse locums.