ArticleBMJ open2023
Use of locum doctors in NHS trusts in England: analysis of routinely collected workforce data 2019-2021.
Article in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Dispatch of locum doctors to rural clinics on remote islands in Japan.Journal of rural medicine : JRM · 2026Article
- Shift-Level Team Familiarity Is Associated with Improved Outcomes in Mechanically Ventilated Adults.American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine · 2024Article
- Locum doctor working and quality and safety: a qualitative study in English primary and secondary care.BMJ quality & safety · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTemporary doctors, known as locum doctors, play an important role in the delivery of care in the National Health Service (NHS); however, little is known about the extent of locum use in NHS trusts. This study aimed to quantify and describe locum use for all NHS trusts in England in 2019-2021.
settingDescriptive analyses of data on locum shifts from all NHS trusts in England in 2019-2021. Weekly data were available for the number of shifts filled by agency and bank staff and the number of shifts requested by each trust. Negative binomial models were used to investigate the association between the proportion of medical staffing provided by locums and NHS trust characteristics.
resultsIn 2019, on average 4.4% of total medical staffing was provided by locums, but this varied substantially across trusts (25th-75th centile=2.2%-6.2%). Over time, on average two-thirds of locum shifts were filled by locum agencies and a third by trusts' staff banks. On average, 11.3% of shifts requested were left unfilled. In 2019-2021, the mean number of weekly shifts per trust increased by 19% (175.2-208.6) and the mean number of weekly unfilled shifts per trust increased by 54% (32.7 to 50.4). Trusts rated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as inadequate or requiring improvement (incidence rate ratio=1.495; 95% CI 1.191 to 1.877), and smaller trusts had a higher use of locums. Large variability was observed across regions for use of locums, proportion of shifts filled by locum agencies and unfilled shifts.
conclusionsThere were large variations in the demand for and use of locum doctors in NHS trusts. Trusts with poor CQC ratings and smaller trusts appear to use locum doctors more intensively compared with other trust types. Unfilled shifts were at a 3-year high at the end of 2021 suggesting increased demand which may result from growing workforce shortages in NHS trusts.
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