A casualty medical officer (CMO) is the doctor who first sees emergency patients in a hospital casualty department. Many hospitals fill CMO duty, especially nights and weekends, with locum doctors.
The casualty medical officer receives patients who arrive in an emergency, assesses them quickly, starts initial treatment and calls the right specialist. The department must have a doctor present at all hours, which is why the rota is hard to fill.
Duty is usually in fixed blocks, such as a day shift, an evening shift or a night shift. Posts differ on how many patients you see and what back-up is available.
Hospitals usually look for a doctor with a valid registration and some emergency or ward experience. Specific requirements are written in each posting, such as life-support training.
A hospital may employ casualty medical officers full time and still need locum cover for leave, sickness and busy periods. For a doctor, locum CMO shifts are a way to gain emergency experience without a long commitment.
Hospitals post casualty and emergency shifts on Rounds with the hours and rate shown. Verified doctors nearby accept in one tap, and the hospital pays the doctor directly with no commission.
Every registration checked against NMC records. Zero commission, the hospital pays the doctor directly.
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