Have you ever wondered what it’s like doing locum work? Meet Dr Tan who recently had his first locum experience and find out what it’s like to work with LML Medical Recruitment.

Why did you decide to try a locum experience?

I have been working at a suburban General Practice (GP) and felt like the Emergency Department (ED) skills I had previously developed needed refreshing so they didn’t waste away! It was also a great opportunity to travel and to visit some friends in Brisbane.

Could you describe your first locum experience?

It was an adventure! I went to a farming township about 100km from Brisbane in a small rural hospital as a Senior Medical Officer (SMO). LML Medical Recruitment (LML) sorted out my flights and rental car in one email ‚ they even offered me GPS in case I got lost!

They provided me with a lot of local information too. They warned me that it can be cold at night in Queensland despite being the sunshine state! And they also gave me the heads up that there was only one IGA supermarket and local pubs to get food from so as I was arriving late I made sure I had dinner in Brisbane before arriving there at 11pm! After completing my shifts the paperwork was signed and faxed and then I got paid a week later.

All in all I only have a great report for my first locum experience with LML ‚ it was simply seamless ‚ you just turn up and work and let the LML staff worry about the rest!

What were you doing whilst you were there?

I was pretty much the only doctor in town so it was a mixture of ED shifts and general Medical/Surgical ward cover as well as being on-call.

How did you find the hospital/facility?

The hospital was rather basic so some patients would have to be shipped to the nearest metro hospital to deal with specific injuries. For example, I treated a neck injury due to a horse fall but as the trauma series could not be done, the patient went to the metro-centre to clear her C-spine.

What did you think of the hospital accommodation?

It was clean and had all the mod cons. It was actually only about 50m away from the side entrance of the hospital which made it very handy!

What were the hospital staff like?

The staff were friendly and approachable, and most staff were thankful that they had a “doctor on site”. Usually the hospital is staffed by local GP’s who, due to their location, can take some time to come and see patients, both in ED & in the wards. The nurses, particularly the older ones, were well skilled and could deal with simple ailments overnight without my advice and some nurses even kept the patients in bays until the morning for me to review, which allowed me a peaceful night’s rest!

How did you find LML Medical Recruitment’s assistance in finding you work?

Very quick and efficient. I gave them my availability and they liaised with the hospital to arrange shifts as well as negotiating the best rates on my behalf. As I am a FARGP trainee, the staff understood my capabilities and protected my interest to ensure the hospital’s offer was in line with my skills and experience.

Personally, what do you find is the advantages of working with LML Medical Recruitment?

As you get allocated an agent (Joanne and Rebecca both looked after me) you get a personal service, where you can build a rapport with the agents and that certainly helps when looking for locum positions. They were really friendly and it was great to have contact with someone who knew my schedule and situation so they could be understanding of that.

What advice would you give to someone who was thinking about doing locum work?

Just to go for it! Make sure you go with an open mind as most locum positions are in places you might not usually work so it’s really interesting seeing how things are done differently i.e. treatment protocol/medication/procedures/expectations etc. You’ll really enjoy it ‚ I did!

Are you interested in doing some locum work? Speak to the LML Medical Recruitment team today to find out about locum opportunities.

Contact the LML Team:
1300 889 133
[email protected]