“Hey, do you know if this locum agency is any good?”‍

This is one of the most commonly-asked questions by locum doctors.

Choosing the right locum agency is a big deal, that can have a big impact on whether your time as a locum is successful or not.

But for doctors, making this simple decision can feel like a minefield.

Why is choosing an agency so hard?

At the last count there were over 500 locum agencies offering work for doctors… and they all claim to be the best option for you.

But there is so much variability between agencies. Many are great: good access to work, knowledgable recruiters, reliable and trustworthy. But some are the opposite, and lead doctors to have a negative and frustrating experience that makes them feel like locuming is ‘not for them’.

Reviews on Messly

For the last two years, Messly has been helping locum doctors find work by connecting them with the best agencies through our locum-finding service. There’s more on how that works below.

A key part of the Messly service is collecting feedback from doctors on their experience of working with locum agencies. We use this to make sure that we’re only connecting you with the best locum agencies, and to hold recruiters to account on providing doctors with a great experience.

Comparing locum agencies

Since we launched, we’ve collected 1,000s of reviews from doctors.

And from today, we’re opening up that review data to help anyone make more informed and evidence-based decisions on which agencies to use when finding locum work.

You can check the reviews out here: https://www.messly.com/compare-locum-agencies‍

How it works

👉  What are these ratings?‍

Ratings are collected from doctors who are using Messly's locum-finding service. We collect these both after an initial call with an agency recruiter, and later in the placement process.

👉  Are the ratings reliable?

Reviews can only be left by doctors who have been screened and approved to join Messly's locum-finding service. Reviews are verified by the Messly team, and each doctor can only review each recruiter once, so ratings cannot be manipulated by agencies.

👉  How are agencies selected to join Messly?‍

Agencies are selected to join based on recommendations from locum doctors. We then make them follow a strict code of conduct and monitor feedback to ensure they provide a great service. Over time, we have removed a number of recruiters and agencies with repeated low scores or bad feedback. This ensures that doctors only work with the best and most reliable agencies.

👉  What if an agency is not included in this list?

This means that the agency has not been selected to be part of Messly's locum-finding service, or has chosen not to take part.

👉  How does Messly’s service work?‍

Messly is a faster, simpler and more transparent way to find locum work.

Firstly, you create your profile in the app. You say exactly what kind of locum work you want. What rates you expect, how far you’ll travel, if you’ll do anti-social hours, and more.

You’ll then receive offers for locum work from just the best locum agencies. You see real shifts, with hospital details, rates and rotas - all matched specifically to your wishes.

You can review these within the app, comparing rates and travel distances and reading the recruiters’ pitches to you.

If you see some work you like, you can then schedule a convenient time to speak to the agency. Only then do you share your contact information, and only ever with the agencies that you’ve selected. You won’t get any unwanted emails or spam phone calls.

We’ll then help you through the registration process, so you can start working quickly and effortlessly.

We’ve helped over 10,000 doctors find locum work on their terms, giving them access to locum work from all the best agencies, at their fingertips.

‍

👉  Is using Messly better than registering direct with an agency?‍

We think so 😊

By giving you choice and putting the power in your hands, you’re likely to get better rates, less travel and your pick of departments, whilst saving time and hassle.

To see how Messly compares with registering directly, check out this article.

We've published 100s of articles for locum doctors, to help you understand your options, maximise your pay and navigate the process of finding work. Check these out at our Locum Doctor Hub.

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