When it comes to health service news, there are so many scare stories being put out there we suspect Stephen King has a new day job.
The latest headline to cause a mild pandemic of panic is that doctors are deserting the NHS en masse in order to treble their salaries working as locums.
Certainly, there is evidence some doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals are making the choice to become permanently temporary staff.
However, this is not a trend being seen across the country. Neither is locum work a sudden, new phenomenon.
In fact, many GP surgeries and hospitals have long welcomed the skills and availability of professional temporary workers, while the variety of locum roles currently on offer at s1jobs reflects a healthy recruitment sector.
So what’s the big attraction of being a locum?
For many who are starting out in their careers in healthcare, it’s a great way to gain more time before deciding which specialty to pursue.
Some locum appointments can even count towards their training if they go on to enter an approved specialty training programme.
For GPs, consultants and specialty doctors and nurses, it’s about enjoying the perfect work-life balance – after all, choosing to become a locum offers greater flexibility, with the independence to work in different places and at times suited to you.
There is also the opportunity to schedule locum assignments with roles outside the ‘day job’ – perhaps enjoying a special interest, such as counselling or lecturing, or becoming involved in charity work at home or abroad.
Although a higher rate of pay is possible, this must be weighed against the insecurity of holding a temporary position and possible spells without work.
Alongside this, there are other disadvantages to consider, which follow the downside of being ‘self-employed’.
For instance, if you want to jet off to sunnier climes for a week or fall ill yourself, you’re not working and therefore not earning.
There are also factors such as securing a pension plan and accountancy returns that need to be taken care of.
In the end, choosing to go locum or not will undoubtedly be a very personal decision.
However, with a variety of top roles on s1jobs, there are plenty of opportunities to find the inspiration that could make it work for you.
Find permanent and temporary Medical and Healthcare roles with s1jobs