Quick answer: To find a reliable locum vet in the UK, practices have three main options: specialist recruitment agencies, direct booking platforms, and professional networks. Direct platforms give you the most control. You can review verified profiles, read reviews from other practices, negotiate the rate directly, and avoid paying an agency markup of 20 to 30 per cent on the day rate.
Locum hiring has changed significantly in the last few years. Practices that used to depend entirely on recruitment agencies now have access to tools that let them search, vet, and book locums directly, with full visibility of who they are hiring before anyone arrives. This guide covers where to find locums, what to look for, and how to build the kind of reliable cover that does not depend on a last-minute scramble.
Where do UK vet practices find locums?
The three main channels are:
- Specialist veterinary recruitment agencies. Agencies hold databases of registered locums and can source cover at short notice. The trade-off is cost (agency fees typically add 20 to 30 per cent to the locum’s day rate), limited visibility into who is being sent, and no direct line of communication until after the agency has approved the match.
- Direct booking platforms. Platforms like Ronda let practices post shifts and receive applications directly from locums. You see the full profile, read verified reviews, compare candidates, and negotiate the rate yourself. The platform fee is significantly lower than an agency markup and works 24/7.
- Professional networks and word of mouth. Colleagues at other practices, professional forums, and locum-specific networks are still a strong source of trusted referrals. These relationships take time to build.
What is the difference between a locum agency and a direct booking platform?
| Recruitment agency | Ronda (direct platform) | |
| Typical fee | Recruitment agency20 to 30% markup on the day rate | Ronda (direct platform)5.99% platform fee (paid by practice) |
| Who chooses the locum? | Recruitment agencyThe agency selects and presents candidates | Ronda (direct platform)You review all applicants and choose |
| Communication | Recruitment agencyVia the agency as intermediary | Ronda (direct platform)Direct in-app between practice and locum |
| Speed | Recruitment agencyHours to days | Ronda (direct platform)Minutes to hours |
| Reviews and history | Recruitment agencyUsually not visible to the practice | Ronda (direct platform)Verified, shown on the locum profile |
| Rate negotiation | Recruitment agencyHandled by the agency. No transparent | Ronda (direct platform)You negotiate directly with the locum |
| Contract and terms | Recruitment agencyAgency-managed, limited practice input | Ronda (direct platform)Set directly between practice and locum |
The fundamental difference is control. An agency manages the process on your behalf. A direct platform gives you the tools to manage it yourself, with lower costs and full transparency.
What should you look for in a locum vet before you book?
Beyond RCVS registration and the right to work, the most important things to assess are:
- Species and skills match. Confirm that the locum has experience relevant to your caseload. A skills matrix on their profile should tell you what procedures they are comfortable performing alone and which they would need support for.
- Reliability record. A locum’s reliability rate, calculated from their booking history, is a much stronger indicator of how they will behave than anything on a CV. Look for a track record of showing up / cancellations and completing their shifts.
- Verified reviews from other practices. Peer reviews from practices similar to yours are the most useful signal available. They tell you how the locum communicates, integrates with teams, and handles the unexpected.
- Professional indemnity insurance. Locum vets must hold their own VDS or equivalent cover. Confirm this before the shift, not on the day.
- Right to work documentation. For locums who are not UK or Irish nationals, right to work checks are a legal requirement.
How do you assess reliability before the locum arrives?
Three things help here:
- Read the reviews carefully. Look for comments on punctuality, communication, clinical standard, and how the locum handled anything unexpected. A pattern across multiple reviews is more informative than any single five-star rating.
- Look at their reliability rate. On platforms that calculate this from booking history, a high reliability rate tells you this locum has a consistent record of showing up and completing shifts as agreed. A rate calculated on a weighted basis, which gives more weight to cancellations made at short notice, is the most useful measure.
- Make direct contact before confirming. A short conversation or message exchange after you confirm the booking tells you how the locum communicates and gives you the opportunity to clarify expectations. A locum who is slow to respond or vague about their experience is giving you useful information.
What does a good locum onboarding process look like?
Even a one-day locum needs the minimum information to function safely. Prepare a short induction pack that can be shared by email or message before the shift, covering:
- Key contacts: practice manager, clinical lead, duty vet
- Location of drugs, emergency equipment, and anaesthetic machines
- Access to your practice management system
- End-of-day handover protocol
- Escalation route for clinical concerns
Assign someone from the permanent team to be a point of contact on the day. A locum who arrives knowing what they need to know integrates faster, causes fewer disruptions, and delivers better care.
How do you build a reliable pool of locums over time?
The practices with the least locum stress are those that do not treat every booking as a fresh search. Building a pool of known, reliable locums who understand your practice is the most effective way to reduce both cost and anxiety.
After each shift, leave a review. Collect one in return. Locums who know that working well with your practice generates a strong review are more invested in doing a good job, and more likely to prioritise you when they have multiple options. A two-way review system makes this mutual accountability visible and durable.
Frequently asked questions about finding and hiring locum vets
How far in advance should I post a locum shift?
As early as possible. For planned cover (annual leave, maternity, staff changes), posting six to eight weeks in advance gives you access to the widest pool of applicants. For emergency cover, post immediately using a platform where locums can respond in real time.
Do I need to carry out right-to-work checks for locums?
Yes. Right-to-work checks are a legal requirement for all workers, including self-employed locums, where the practice is the hiring entity. UK and Irish nationals can confirm their right to work with a passport or birth certificate. Non-UK nationals must provide documentation showing their right to work in the UK. Ronda doest this for you: all the locums have been verified before they can apply for any shift.
Can I negotiate the rate directly with a locum on Ronda?
Yes. Ronda supports direct rate negotiation between practices and locums. You post your offered rate, and locums can apply or propose an alternative. All negotiation happens through the platform, with no agency in the middle.
What if a locum does not meet the expected standard?
Leave an honest review through the platform after the shift. A verified review system that records both positive and critical feedback raises standards across the platform and helps other practices make informed decisions. If there is a serious clinical concern, follow your normal incident escalation procedure.
How much does it cost to hire a locum vet through Ronda?
You pay the agreed day rate directly to the locum and a 5.99% platform fee to Ronda per confirmed booking. There is no agency markup. A locum earning £550 per day through Ronda costs a practice £577.50, compared to £610 to £700 through a typical agency.