How to check a locum doctor's credentials before the shift

A locum doctor often starts within hours of being booked, so the checks have to be quick and still reliable. This checklist covers what to confirm before and at the start of the shift.

1. Medical registration

Ask for the registration certificate and confirm the registration is current. The National Medical Commission and the state medical councils maintain registers of doctors, and many of them can be searched online.

2. Qualifications for the role

Match the qualification to the shift: most RMO shifts need an MBBS, while anaesthesia and ICU shifts usually need a postgraduate qualification in the specialty, and sometimes a fellowship. Ask for the degree certificates behind each qualification the doctor lists.

3. Identity on arrival

Check that the person who arrives is the doctor you booked, against their photo and a government ID. It takes a minute and closes an easy gap.

4. Experience and fit

A quick conversation at handover helps: ask about recent ward, casualty or ICU experience, and walk the doctor through your escalation path and local protocols.

5. Reliability

Past behaviour predicts the next shift. Look at how the doctor has done on previous bookings, including late cancellations and ratings from other hospitals.

How MeddStaff does most of this for you

• Every doctor's medical registration, qualifications and certificates are reviewed by our team before they can apply.
• You can ask for a qualification level and specialty when you post a shift.
• Doctors can add a profile photo, so you know who to expect.
• Doctors check in and out by scanning your hospital QR code, and every shift keeps a timesheet.
• MeddStaff tracks reliability, and hospitals can rate doctors after each completed booking.

Post a shift and see verified applicants, or compare an agency with a staffing platform.