User:Mattmacg

IrishLocum.ie was founded in 2005 by Dr Matthew Mac Gabhann and Michael Smith. The website helps Irish GPs to find and substantially cuts the cost of locum cover.

“Working as a GP I know how difficult and expensive it can be to organise locum cover”, says Dr Mac Gabhann. “Many of my colleagues are available for locum work. However they may not know that a GP in their area needs a locum. This is the reason I set up the website. The website makes it easier for both locums and GPs to organise locum work”.

IrishLocum.ie is not a locum agency so there are no expensive commission or agency fees. Since the recession of 2008 GPs across the country are trying to minimise their overheads.

“When I originally set up the website, the aim was to make it easier for GPs and locums to organise work. Now with the recession and government cuts to GP income, the biggest benefit is the savings made by organising locum cover directly rather than going through a locum agency”.

Doctors interested in doing locum work register their details for free on the site. They select the areas where they are available for work e.g. North Dublin, Kildare, Cork etc. The site is free for GPs to register. The only charge is to send a locum request. The average cost in 2011 was €34 in total. A GP contacts registered locums through the website by filling in some brief details – dates the locum is required, contact name and telephone number. Locums in their area then get a text message to their mobile phones. Available locums contact the GP to arrange further details.

In 2011 there were 550 locums and 290 General Practitioners registered with the site.