Night duty means a doctor covers a hospital's casualty, wards or ICU overnight. Many hospitals fill it with locum doctors, agreed shift by shift with the dates, hours and rate stated up front.
Overnight a hospital still needs a doctor in casualty and for admitted patients. Night duty can mean being the casualty medical officer, the duty doctor for the wards, or the ICU doctor on a unit.
The shift is usually a fixed block, such as an evening to the next morning. The posting should say the hours, the department and what you will be expected to handle.
Nights and weekends are the hardest rota to fill with permanent staff. Hospitals use locum doctors to cover leave, gaps in the rota and sudden absence, often at short notice.
Confirm the exact start and end, the department, who the senior on call is, the rate and when you will be paid. Also confirm where you can rest and who to call if you need support.
Hospitals post night and day shifts on Rounds with the hours and rate shown. Verified doctors nearby are told when a shift is posted and accept in one tap. The hospital pays you directly.
Every registration checked against NMC records. Zero commission, the hospital pays the doctor directly.
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