Medical Locums: Frequently asked questions
Medical Locums: Frequently asked questions
Below are a list of frequently asked questions NSW Health has received about the Medical Locum: NSW Health Standards and Conditions.
1. Will doctors registered in other states still be required to register with the NSW Medical Board?
Yes, current registration with the NSW Medical Board is a legislative requirement to work as a doctor in NSW.
2. Who is the employer of the locum medical officer?
NSW Health requires locums to be remunerated through the payroll to a personal account, provide a TFN declaration form and have PAYG tax deducted. In such circumstances the NSW Health Service is the employer.
3. How will existing bookings between locum agencies and Area Health Services be affected by the new Standards and Conditions?
Existing Area Health Service bookings made with locum agencies up to and including the 13th October 2008 that extend up to and including the 30th June 2009 will be honoured without self assessment and third party assessment. Bookings made prior to the 13th October 2008 that extend past the 30th June 2009 will require evidence of self assessment.
4. Do the Standards and Conditions relate to visiting medical officers (VMOs) and Staff Specialists?
No, the Standards and Conditions do not relate to the appointment of VMOs, Dentists, Staff specialists or any medical professional that has been through the Medical and Dental Appointments and Advisory Committee (MDAAC).
5. What will be the cost of a third party audit and how often will it be required?
The cost of the third party audit will be determined by the service provider. If the locum agency is fully compliant then the audit will only be required every three years. If the audit process results in compliance notices then all compliance timeframes as stipulated by the audit company must be addressed and NSW Health notified of progress.
6. Does the locum agency require public liability ($20 million) professional indemnity ($10 million) and workers compensation policies? (response updated 29 Sept 08)
Yes, it is a standard requirement that the locum agency has insurance certificates to these levels of indemnity as a condition of continued engagement with the NSW Health Service. As an employee, a medical officer will be indemnified through the employer for acts or omissions arising during the course of his or her employment, except where severe and/ or wilful misconduct is involved.
7. Are Working with Children background checks still required if the doctor lives in another state?
Yes, the Working with Children background check is mandatory for preferred applicants for paid child-related employment. Further information is available at www.kids.nsw.gov.au/director/check
8. How often will Working with Children Background Checks need to be conducted?
9. How should the referee checks be conducted?
The locum medical officer will require a minimum of two, preferably three referee checks that must be completed by the locum agency and forwarded to the Area Health Service. The three referee checks must include a combination of current supervisors or Department heads where they have worked and follow the structured process described in the Standards and Conditions Support Pack. Checks must also be verbally verified and recorded in writing.
10. Will Area Health Services still conduct their own reference checks?
Yes, Area Health Services will manage this process by conducting a risk assessment of the information presented to them by the locum agency. The extent of further reference checks will be based on this assessment.
11. Is the 'customer' the Area Health Service or the hospital facility?
The 'customer' for the provision of locum medical officers is the Area Health Service, not the hospital facility.
12. Some of the documentation is very lengthy, doctors might say that they have read it but may not have. It is possible to have a summary of the policies?
No, it is important that all the policies are read prior to employment.
13. Does the Area Health Service need to have a separate agreement with each locum agency?
Yes, NSW Health requires Area Health Services (AHS) enter into a single agreement between the AHS and the locum agency on certain standard terms and conditions. AHS may require specific conditions of business, not inconsistent with the general conditions required by NSW Health, where this is required by the AHS own medical locum engagement and management systems. Negotiated and agreed conditions will be provided in writing.
14. Will individual application forms from each Area Health Service still be required?
Yes, as a means of confirming business status and contact details. It is anticipated that this would only be required once.
15. How do locum agencies obtain verification that the doctor has completed the mandatory training requirements, for example fire training?
It is envisaged that each Area Health Service will establish a centralised management system for the engagement of locum medical officers. This unit / team would be a contact point for agencies to seek advice on this type of information.
16. Is there a minimum amount of time that a person must have resided in a country before a criminal record check is required?
17. Will evidence of pre-placement checks that are conducted by the locum agency and sent to the Area Health Service be distributed to the different hospitals where the locum may work?
It is envisaged that each Area Health Service will establish a centralised management system so that all public hospital sites will have access to this evidence.
18. When conducting the 100 point identification check, is it sufficient for qualifications to be noted from a person's curriculum vitae?
All documents provided to support the 100 point identification check should be original documents. Original qualifications are to be sited then copied. The copy should be certified as 'original sighted' and dated. Copies of original qualifications that have been signed by a Justice of the Peace are also acceptable.
19. When sending documentation to hospitals do copies of all qualifications need to be certified?
Yes, the copy should be certified as 'original sighted' and dated. Copies of original qualifications that have been signed by a Justice of the Peace are also acceptable.
20. What is an internal service check that is referred to in the locum medical officer pre-placement checklist?
An internal service check is conducted by the Area Health Service to ensure that the locum medical officer is not suspended from another employment arrangement within the NSW Health Service or has resigned from employment in the NSW Health Service to avoid suspension. It is a requirement that the locum agency advise the locum Medical Officer that prior to commencing work an internal service check will be conducted.
21. Will locum agencies be receiving copies of position descriptions for all locum vacancies?
It is envisaged that each Area Health Service will establish a centralised management system for the engagement of locum medical officers. This unit / team would be a contact point for agencies to seek advice on this type of information.
22. What will occur if the registered locum agency cannot fill a shift?
It is anticipated that the Area Health Service will contact another registered locum agency as required.
23. Will hospitals be asked to confirm locum placements with the locum agencies in a required time periods? For example 1 hour / 4 hour
The response time for confirming placements will be determined by local management processes that will be established in the Area Health Service.