Locum And Permanent Doctor Opportunities How Do They Compare?

In this article, we’ll take a look at both locum and permanent doctors and outline what the advantages or disadvantages are.

What Is a Locum Doctor In Australia?

A locum doctor is a substitute doctor who works casually or on-call when required. This means, locum doctors can work whenever they want to work. Locum doctors can find temporary placements within a hospital or a general practice medical clinic.

Examples of when a locum doctor’s services would be required include:

• When the regular doctor is away on leave
• The resident GP is off work sick
• To fill the gap between one full-time doctor leaving and finding a permanent replacement
• During particularly busy periods or an emergency situation
• And more…

One major advantage of working as a locum is the hourly or daily rates of pay are often higher, due to the casual nature of the locum position. Because of this, and the fact that locums can pick and choose when and where they work, there is a lot of freedom and flexibility being a locum doctor.

This includes the possibility of travelling to various parts of Australia to fill locum positions. It’s a fantastic way to see more of the country while earning an income at the same time. If a hospital is in need of a locum and the locum doctor has to travel to that destination, the hospital will cover all travel and accommodation expenses on behalf of the locum.

Locum doctors also get to work in a variety of clinical settings and meet a larger group of medical professionals. This helps broaden the locum’s experience and knowledge base, as well as making many new friends and professional acquaintances.

At any stage, a locum doctor can decide to become a permanent doctor and vice a versa. Being a locum is not the lifestyle for every doctor, but it definitely has its benefits.

Why Become a Permanent Doctor?

One of the main benefits of a permanent position in a hospital or general practice is stability and security. Permanent doctors enjoy a stable income and have the security of paid holiday, sick and professional development leave. Knowing how much money you’ll be earning offers peace of mind, whereas a locum will experience periods of no work and no income.

Permanent doctors are also able to build long-term relationships with their colleagues, as well as their regular patients. This fact alone can make the career of a permanent doctor so much more rewarding. It’s very hard for a locum to develop these types of relationships when always on the move.

Making a long-term difference to their department and the patients in their community is also something a permanent doctor has a positive influence over.

Whether you choose to work as a locum or a permanent doctor, there are distinct advantages to each role and you may even decide to try both during your medical career.

Finding Work for Locum Doctors

One challenge that locum doctors face is being able to find placements when you want them. This is where the team at JPS Medical Recruitment can help. We specialise in assisting locum’s find regular work all around the country. To learn more about how we can be of assistance, browse our website or get in touch today and chat with our friendly staff.