Firstly, I must begin with the main factor driving locum rates provided to us (this may be an obvious one!) being the time of year in which sessions are booked. This may not always be the case, but is the main contributing factor – after all, this is a seasonal market! Holiday periods during which…

By Lynda Cox One of the biggest annual costs that GP practices incur is their locum insurance premium. As a large cost, it’s something which the practice or business manager needs to keep an eye on, in case it gets out of hand. Cost control is an integral part of your role and as with…

The well-publicised GP shortage, rising stresses and strains of the job leading to increased absenteeism and an ever-growing demand for GP services means that locums are becoming an increasingly essential component of any GP practice’s workforce. But how can you make sure you’re selecting a locum that fits in well in your practice and how…

Continuity planning is important for any business and the time to do it is now, not when the cracks start appearing. As far as staffing is concerned, no matter how stable the workforce, it’s always possible for a crisis to land on the practice manager’s desk.  This could range from a valued member of staff…

In the 19th century there was a practice in American bars of enticing customers by offering a “free lunch“. The customer would need to buy just one drink to qualify for his “free lunch” but the food tended to be cheap and highly salted  …  so the customer would go on to spend more money…