Could Your Company Send Another Doctor in Your Place?
In this monologue aimed at doctors, Ndubuisi 'Andy' Egwim introduces a practical test to assess a locum doctor's employment status by examining whether their organization could genuinely provide a qualified replacement for a shift. He asks a series of questions about who would select and pay a substitute, whether the hospital or clinic would accept the replacement, and whether the original doctor would retain responsibility for the work. He explains that, unlike trades such as plumbing, doctor substitution involves complex factors—clinical governance, credential verification, induction, access to patient records, and patient safety—that often require organizational approval. The test serves as a diagnostic tool: if substitution is truly feasible, it may indicate an employee relationship; if it exists only on paper, it suggests a contractor arrangement. This is presented as the first of several tests to evaluate the broader picture of a doctor's employment status.
