The use of locum doctors in the NHS - results of a national survey of NHS Trusts in England.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Locum working in healthcare organisations has benefits for individual doctors and organisations but there are concerns about the impact of locum working on continuity of care, patient safety, team function and cost. We conducted a national survey of NHS Trusts in England to explore locum work, and better understand why and where locum doctors were needed; how locum doctors were engaged, supported, perceived and managed; and any changes being made in the way locums are used.

Methods

An online survey was sent to 191 NHS Trusts and 98 were returned (51%) including 66 (67%) acute hospitals, 26 (27%) mental health and six (6%) community health providers. Data was analysed using frequency tables, t-tests and correlations. Free-text responses were analysed using thematic

SUBMITTER: Stringer G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10464080 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature