Hospital locums - ltd company or self employed?!

[cheapshots]

Hi guys,

I am a newly qualified pharmacist, I completed my pre-reg year in hospital and I would like to primarily locum in hospital, full time if possible.

Reading through previous threads it seems best to start off as self employed, only because I am not sure if I will find full time work; however I have herd that hospitals generally prefer to employ locums with a ltd company rather than self employed.

Does anyone have any advice?

Cheapshots.

[Asterix]

can I just ask, what is the pay rate for a hosp locum as I have only ever heard of retail locums.

[cheapshots]

can I just ask, what is the pay rate for a hosp locum as I have only ever heard of retail locums.

I have not worked as a locum yet, I'm still waiting for my RPSGB registration number, so I can't really help you Asterix

I know just a little about the rate - which depends on your experience, i.e. a dispensary based locum in London will be looking at around £24/hr, if you also do a ward then the rate goes up, not sure by how much.

[paul2008]

Hi guys,

I am a newly qualified pharmacist, I completed my pre-reg year in hospital and I would like to primarily locum in hospital, full time if possible.

Reading through previous threads it seems best to start off as self employed, only because I am not sure if I will find full time work; however I have herd that hospitals generally prefer to employ locums with a ltd company rather than self employed.

Does anyone have any advice?

Cheapshots.

If you work through an agency, the hospital won't know hopw you get paid. I used to insist on getting PAYE deducted by the agency, they did not like this and tried to sell me various limited/umbrella options run by associated companies, I'm sure the line about finding work came out but once I got started and worked out I would be saving by ditching the umbrella company, for some reason had no problems getting work at all, although perhaps this was because I was lucky enough to be asked back a few times to places, I had worked.

Good luck with the locums, just an idea, once you make contacts you could offer your services directly instead of going via an agency, better for the hospital and for you although there are some admin details like getting crb's. Agencies usually have a term that you can't work for the place they placed you for a year, if you want to stay on their good side probably best to folow this rule although they can't really stop you.

NOTE: You may save by using an umbrella or limited company, my situation was peculiar to me and mean that I was losing by using the usual tax avoidance schemes.

[johnep]

Remember, tax avoidance is legal, tax evasion is an offence.
johnep