How to provide feedback or make a complaint about a locum?

Lantum prides itself on the quality of its members, but we recognise that occasionally a GP Locum doesn’t achieve the high standards expected of them. In these instances it's important that the GP Locum is made aware of any problems so that they can reflect on them and improve for the future.

GP Locums who book work through Lantum are expected to be:

• Punctual
• Organised
• Polite and respectful
• Remain at all times professional and keep confidentiality
• Reflect and improve from feedback
• Honour their commitments

If you wish to raise an issue or provide feedback on the service provided by a locum booked through Lantum, follow the process below.

I want to provide feedback about a locums behaviour or professional conduct (non-clinical):

Examples of non-clinical grievances include:

• Locum was late for a session or does not turn up
• The locum was unprepared (for example did not have a car despite being told about home visits)
• The locum was rude to staff or patients
• Locum withdraws from a session with 3 or fewer days notice
• There are non-clinical complaints about the locum

Here's the process you follow:

Step 1 - Leave feedback

If you have minor feedback, you can email it to us on support@lantum.com and we will pass it on to the GP to learn from and improve. Or you can message them directly through the Lantum messaging centre.

Step 2 - Submit a formal complaint

If you would like to submit a formal complaint, please complete the Lantum GP Feedback Form, which can be found here. Please return this form to the Support team at Lantum on support@lantum.com.  This form will be reviewed by the Operations Manager. It will also be shared with the GP for review and comment.

Step 3 - Request a formal warning

Contact Lantum directly via support@lantum.com to request a formal caution, this must follow your submission of a formal complaint. This final action escalates the matter further and if deemed appropriate to be given, is recorded internally against their profile for a period of six months. If three warnings are received within a period of six months, their account may be suspended. A warning may therefore result in a significant penalty for the GP Locum, so please be very sure before you request one. 

See the Code of Conduct for examples of cases where a warning would be given.

I want to provide feedback about a clinical issue

Examples include:

• The locum breached patient confidentiality  
• There are clinical complaints about the locum

Most complaints can be handled at a local level between the GP and the practice involved. Below are the following steps to follow if you have a complaint with a GP who uses Lantum.

Step 1 - Leave feedback

When the session is complete, if you have minor feedback, you can email it to us on clinical.governance@lantum.com and we will pass it on to the GP to learn from and improve. Or you can message them directly through the Lantum messaging centre.

Step 2 - Submit a formal complaint

If you would like to submit a formal complaint, please complete the Lantum GP Feedback Form, which can be found here. Please return this form to the Clinical Governance team at Lantum on clinical.governance@lantum.com. This form will be reviewed by the Operations Manager and Head of Clinical Governance. It will also be shared with the GP for review and comment.

Step 3 - Inform the Responsible Officer for the GP

If you’re unhappy with the GP's response or feel the complaint is more serious, you can escalate the complaint to the doctors Responsible Officer. Details of the doctors Responsible Officer can be found on the GMC website under the doctor’s GMC number.  The Responsible Officer is the doctor responsible for monitoring performance and revalidation of GPs.

Step 4 - Inform the GMC/LMC of the complaint

If you have immediate concerns about a doctors fitness to practise or you feel patient safety is at risk, please call the GMC and also get advice from your indemnity provider. The GMC number is 0161 923 6602. The GMC have provided details about the process of submitting a complaint. You can find details and guidance on how to submit a complaint to the GMC on the GMC website. 

If you are not sure whether the GMC should be involved, please contact the GMC on 0161 923 6602 and they will advise you.

We also ask that you inform our Head of Clinical Governance for our records, and so that the complaint can be shared with other Practice Managers (if relevant). However please be aware that patient details should not be shared with Lantum under any circumstances. You can email the Head of Clinical Governance at clinical.governance@lantum.com.

Step 5. Removal from site

Lantum takes negative clinical feedback extremely seriously, and as a last resort will remove any GP as a member who fails to uphold the high standards expected of them.