Total Locum gives me no placements

[DavidS]

I get by the "reference" problem by always letting the person know that I've given their name as a reference, and including a reference ready written for them to sign and send on.

It works for me.

[GAZ]

I'm a full-time locum and I started out in November 2008 & decided to register with 2 agencies and also to send out letters to all pharmacies within a certain distance of my home, detailing my availability, rates & experience - I now get most of my work from direct contacts & the rest is made up via agencies - at the present moment my agency work is coming mainly via Team Locum, who I find to be a very professional outfit (linda, matt etc) whilst bookings via Total Locum haven't been quite so good - unless I wish to do a 200+ miles round trip! BUT having said that I have received plenty of work in the past via TotalLocum. You need to think of yourself as a business - market yourself, be puntual, efficient, professional etc and repeat bookings should follow!

[cymru72]

I have registered with Total Locum recently. To start with, I have requested placements on any Sunday till the end of June using their calendar tool. I have not been given a single offer in return. Why is that? I have set all the sensitive variables (pay rate, mileage rate, hours of work etc.) to minimum to maximize the number of offers. I am accredited for MURs, I have a Repeat Dispensing certificate. On the other hand, I have just a few months experience as a pharmacist and know only one computer system.
What would be the best way to start as a locum? What agencies would you recommend to me? Can I be registered with more than one? I'm looking for work in the East of England if that helps.
Thank you

I work for a supermarket and have to book my own locums. I have never had to use a locum agency to fill a Sunday. Locums snap up Sundays as soon as I have some available as they offer a higher rate, and are usually fairly quiet.You are also competing with employee community and hospital pharmacists as well as other locums, as lots of employee pharmacists like to top up their income on the side. By just requesting Sundays, this is probably why you have yet to receive any bookings. Try ringing supermarket stores direct and speak to the pharmacist manager as they will usually be doing the booking

[Sinister]

cymru72 is right. Most of the supermarkets have to book the locums theirselves. Give them a ring or ideally print some business cards out with the small calendar at the back and visit them by introducing yourself and highlighting the available dates with green marker That's what I would do anyway if I wasn't fully booked for the next 2 months

[philly]

Happy news - I have been booked for a few days in March so far. However, I have not received any payment whatsoever. I worked for Rowlands, Co-Op and Tesco. How long miht it take to be paid by these three companies, respectively?

[johnep]

You will only get paid if their finance depts know you worked. For this you must have filled in the correct forms (keep a copy) and submitted them as instructed. Many pay at end of month.
johnep

[philly]

Yes, I have submitted a relevant form for every day I worked. However, I have no copies of Tesco's forms since I had to leave them in store and was said that the pharmacy manager would make sure they are processed.

[roper]

Tesco payments vary greatly by the efficiency of the store and as the first occasion is complicated by them needing to allocate you a man number I would keep a careful watch on that one. I expect about a 3 week wait.

[LocumLW]

Hi,

How many agencies are you registered with?

[DavidS]

Rowlands are very quick indeed.