Locum work is particularly important in rural and remote areas, and areas affected by staff shortages. In the past, Senior Doctors would often choose locum employment as a way of ‘easing into retirement’. However, nowadays, doctors of all ages and stages of their career are choosing to work in locum employment and find it provides many benefits including:

• flexibility and work-life balance

• financial incentives

• variety and travel

• skill development and specialisation

• exposure to different healthcare settings

Nurses and Midwives, including enrolled nurses, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and other specialist and senior nurses, work in multidisciplinary teams providing general and specialist nursing care and services to patients. They can find locum employment in a variety of healthcare settings and areas of interest. Locum nursing roles help to alleviate staff shortages and reduce pressure on health service delivery, while offering Nurses greater control, work/life balance, and career development opportunities.