Anaesthetics Locum Jobs

 A Locum Anaesthetist is a temporary or contract anaesthetist who fills in for a permanent anaesthetist in a hospital or healthcare facility. The term "locum" is derived from the Latin phrase "locum tenens," which means "placeholder." A locum anaesthetist is responsible for administering anaesthesia to patients undergoing surgical or diagnostic procedures, managing pain control, and monitoring patients before, during, and after surgery.

Locum anaesthetists are typically hired for a fixed term or on an as-needed basis to cover for absences, such as when a permanent anaesthetist is on leave, or to provide additional support during periods of high demand. They may work in various healthcare settings, including public or private hospitals, day surgery centres, and clinics.

Locum anaesthetists must be registered medical practitioners with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and hold specialist registration and have completed a fellowship in Anaesthetics and possess experience in the field.

To work as a Locum Anaesthetist, you must have the appropriate qualifications and registrations. The following are the qualifications and requirements necessary:

Medical degree: You must have a degree in medicine from a recognised university.

Registration: You must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as a medical practitioner with specialist registration in anaesthesia.

Specialist training: Following your residency, you will need to complete a specialist training program in anaesthesia to become a fellow (FRANZCA), which is awarded by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA).

Professional Indemnity Insurance: You must have appropriate professional indemnity insurance coverage.

Relevant experience: You should have a minimum of two years of experience in the field of anaesthesia.

Eligibility to work in Australia: You must be eligible to work in Australia or have a valid working visa.

Once you meet these requirements, you can work as a Locum Anaesthetist. It is important to note that individual hospitals or healthcare facilities may have additional requirements or preferences for their locum anaesthetics positions.

To become a Locum Anaesthetist, you must complete the following steps:

Obtain a medical degree: You must first obtain a medical degree from a recognised university.

Complete specialist training: After obtaining your medical degree, you will need to complete a specialist training program in anaesthesia that is recognised by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA). This training can take up to six years, and it involves both clinical and theoretical components.

Obtain specialist registration: Once you have completed your specialist training, you will need to obtain specialist registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as an Anaesthetist.

Apply for locum positions: Once you have gained sufficient experience, you can apply for locum positions through various recruitment agencies or directly with hospitals or healthcare facilities.

Maintain your registration: As a Locum Anaesthetist, you will need to maintain your registration with AHPRA and keep up to date with continuing professional development requirements.

Locum Anaesthetists can typically earn higher rates of pay than permanent anaesthetists due to their short-term nature of work and high demand for their services.

The rates can vary depending on the nature of the locum work, such as whether it's a short-term or long-term contract, the location of the job, and the demand for anaesthetists at the time.

If you are a locum anaesthetist at the registrar level, you can earn $1,200 to $1,900 daily. As a locum specialist Anaesthetist, you can earn as much as $2,000 to $4,000 daily.

The number of hours worked by a locum anaesthetist can vary depending on the specific job or contract they undertake. However, it's common for locum anaesthetists to work long hours, including weekends and evenings, to cover for other anaesthetists or to meet demand for their services.

The number of hours worked may also depend on the type of healthcare facility or hospital where the locum anaesthetist is working. For example, a locum anaesthetist working in a busy metropolitan hospital may work longer hours than one working in a regional hospital with less demand for services.

Typically, a locum anaesthetist can expect to work full-time hours, which may be defined as 38 hours per week or more. Some positions have an on-call component which require longer hours to cover emergency situations outside of normal working hours. There are also part-time positions, which can range from several hours per week to a few days per week, depending on the needs of the hospital or healthcare facility.

It's important to note that the specific hours worked by a locum anaesthetist may be negotiated as part of their contract, and that additional hours or on-call duties may be required at short notice in some cases.