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Good practice guide

Using locum doctors in hospitals

Self-assessment checklist for NHS boards

  • Is the board collecting information on expenditure, demand for, and use of locum doctors to understand why, and in which areas, locums are being used? Is this information held electronically in an easily accessible format?
  • Is the board analysing and reporting performance information on expenditure, demand and use of locum doctors to appropriate management level?
  • Has the board developed a strategy to reduce expenditure on, and minimise demand for, locum doctors? Has this been implemented?
  • Is the board benchmarking performance information with other NHS boards?
  • Does the board have a corporate policy setting out when locum doctors can be used and the procedures for procuring locum doctors? Is compliance with this policy monitored and actions set out to improve compliance where necessary?
  • Does the board monitor its use of the new national contract for locum agencies? Is there an action plan for ensuring levels of use of the contract are maintained and improved where necessary?
  • Is the board reducing the use of locum doctors for annual leave and study leave by ensuring planned leave is factored into rota planning? Are rotas large enough to be re-organised to try to minimise demand for locum doctors?
  • Does the board have corporate policies relating to pre-employment checks, induction, supervision and performance management of locum doctors? Is there an action plan for ensuring these are implemented across the board? Does the board have a monitoring schedule to check these policies are being implemented?
  • Does the board collect centrally, in an electronic format, performance information from locum doctor assessment forms and record any action taken to ensure risks to patient safety are minimised?
  • Does the board have a system for providing IT passwords to each locum doctor used?

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