The Doctors have spoken and they want an app

Dr Benjamin James and Dr Rosalind Mole, an F2 and SpR respectively, used an internet-based survey to question their colleagues about their experiences of organising locum shifts.  With responses from over 100 doctors, from F1 up to registrar level, the results speak for themselves.

Read More
Jason Peart
How to plan your year out

It’s an idea toyed by many medics in all stages of their careers. “Can I afford to take a break?” “Do I need a break?” “How will this affect my training?”. Taking a break between training programmes is now more common than ever, with many FY2s and CT2s opting to take a ‘locum year’ before they enter their next stage of their training. The most important question to ask is — is it right for you?

Read More
Jason Peart
What does IR35 mean for me?

IR35 is a piece of tax legislation that aims to combat tax avoidance including those who are paid through umbrella companies and intermediaries as ‘disguised employees’.  Changes to the legislation that came into effect on 6th April 2017 have had major implications in the way in which some locums are paid.

Read More
Jason Peart
5 things to note when beginning your medical career

With the dawn of a new year, many of us will look back and reflect on our lives and the decisions we have made along the way. With 2018 marking 10 years since I graduated from medical school, I have compiled a list of 5 things I would go back and tell myself at the start of my medical career. Read on and see if you agree or in fact can relate.

Read More
Jason Peart
How to maximise sleep on night shifts

One of our toughest working requirements is night shifts. The ‘hero’ attitude to putting patient care above personal needs is, many times, what keeps the NHS going. But what are the implications of this self-sacrifice? And is it really in the best interest of the patients under our care? Despite increasing evidence for the effect of sleep deprivation on our ability to deliver safe care, doctors often don’t receive much, if any, information and education on the importance of sleep management. Here, we’ll go through some important facts about sleep, and tips for how to optimise your waking and sleeping hours.

Read More
Jason Peart
Flu Jab – Why bother?

It’s that time of year again. Yep, that’s right, the time of year where most of us have managed to avoid the occupational health team trying to give us our flu jab as we don’t want it/can’t be
bothered. This year I thought I’d look into the vaccination in a bit more detail….

Read More
Jason Peart
Make your money go further...

It's one thing doing extra shifts to top up your salary, but one thing we doctors don't always think about is what to do next — the best way to manage your money. We may be quite comfortable putting in cannulas, maintaining someone's airway, and of course, doing TTOs. But when do we get taught about taking control of our finances?

For some of us, saving might be something as simple as moving a portion of our salary into a bank account every month. But is this really the best way to help it to grow? Or even to stay afloat?

In today’s blog we show you three essential steps to follow to make sure your money goes further.

Read More
Jason Peart
Addicted to Apps

Smartphones and tablet devices have become an increasingly prominent, some would say essential, part of our lives. Recent data produced by Deloitte (one of the "Big Four" accounting firms and the largest professional services network in the world by revenue and number of professionals) stated that 52% of smartphone users check their phone within 15 minutes of waking up.

Read More
Jason Peart
How does the new Junior Dr contract affect my locum work?

With the advent of the new junior doctor contract in August of this year there comes a fair amount of change, including how we can locum.
 

We all do at least the odd shift of locum work (we all need to get away to Marbella, right?) and so it is important to know where you stand with regards to the new contract.  These are the key points you need to know about to stay on the right side of J. Hunt (if you want to that is…).

Read More
Jason Peart
Want to work on a tropical island?

Before working for Locum’s nest, Clinical Lead Dr. Ben Herring did several trips as an expedition medic.  One of these trips was to a remote Indonesian Island called Hoga to take care of a group of scientists and students as part of a scientific dive expedition.

Read More
Nicholas Andreou
Locum's Nest, the NHS & the bigger picture

Not since its inception in 1948 has the National Health Service been under such pressure in demographic, economic and structural domains. For the frontline workers of the 5th largest employer worldwide, it seems that their pleas for additional funding have fallen on deaf ears as the Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) roll ahead. 

Read More
Nicholas Andreou