Advice needed for starting a locum agency

[locumaware]

I've just quit working five years for one of the larger pharmacy chains (not as a pharmacist) to be my own boss and to start up my very own locum agency.

It's becoming clear to me that finding the bookings isn't the biggest issue at the moment, the greatest difficulty is getting the good pharmacists with availability and keeping them.

Therefore I want to make sure I hold onto any good locums I can get so I'm very curious as to what common traps agencies you have worked for fall into, why they lose your business over time, what basic things you expect from an agency, what makes one agency stand out above all others and why do you keep coming back to particular agencies?

Of course one of the common complaints I've heard is the lack of honesty and integrity from agencies that are just after a quick booking and don't care about the fallout. Is this the biggest factor when you choose to work or not work for a particular agency or are you happy as long as you are getting a good rate?

Lots of questions I know, but any help would be appreciated.

[dizzyb23]

I know next to nothing about running a locum agency but still wish you all the luck in the world and hope you get things up and running. I have worked with hundreds of locums over the years and have spoken to them about their agencies and working etc. Some have said about the frustrations they have felt at poor organisation such as two pharmacists turning up for work at the same place, bad pharmacies that have no support staff or staff that are crap and know nothing. They really hate being sent to pharmacies that are in a real mess. Knowing your area/s is probably a good thing. Sorry I don't know much more than that.....