Locum:
The definition of locum tenens, roughly translated from Latin, means “to hold a place.” Locum tenens physicians fill in for other physicians on a temporary basis for a range of a few days to up to six months or more. When a healthcare employer faces temporary staffing shortages due to vacancies, illness, or other causes, they hire locum tenens physicians and other part-time clinicians to fill those vacancies. [Staff Care]
Noted in “Conservative Party leader contenders: Ex-health minister Jeremy Hunt,” Clare Wilson, NewScientist:
After three short strikes in which junior doctors withheld all services bar emergency care for up to two days at a time, they took the extreme option of pulling emergency care too for two days. However, not all junior doctors went on strike, and senior hospital doctors and locums tried to fill gaps in cover.
Yes, this dates from May 2019 – Hunt is no longer in the hunt, as they say, for the premiership. But locum is entirely new to me.
