Locum doctor working: A qualitative exploration of the implications for learning and professional development
To address the challenges locum working might bring for learning and professional development, professional bodies should provide guidance for locum doctors highlighting the risks associated with taking on locum work before medical knowledge and experience are established. To improve quality and safety, organisational leaders should include locums in developmental opportunities. Finally, policy makers need to strike a balance between using locums to address short-term workforce quotas and the long-term impact on the knowledge and development of the workforce and patient safety.
Authors
- Darren Mark Ashcroft (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2958-915X)
- Kieran Walshe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0696-480X)
- Jane Ferguson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8129-8376)
- Evangelos Kontopantelis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6450-5815)
- Gemma Stringer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9325-3362)
- Christos Grigoroglou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1621-8648)
- Thomas Allen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2972-7911)
Institutions
- University of Southern Denmark (DK)
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (GB)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Primary Health Care (QA)
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (GB)
- University of Birmingham (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Medical Education
- Published
- 2025-11-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.70099
- Primary Topic
- Global Health Workforce Issues
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- Department of Health and Social Care