New locum program helps rural community access maternity care

The Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC) has announced the Rural Family Practice Enhanced Surgical Skills OB Locum Program pilot is now running until March 31, 2025. This program helps rural family practice doctors, who provide eligible core surgical obstetrics services, secure subsidized leave periods from their practices for purposes such as vacation and Continuing Medical Education (CME). This program will strengthen maternity care in rural parts of the province, and help pregnant patients continue to receive care in their local communities. 

Each fiscal year, eligible rural communities will be approved for up to 35 days of locum coverage per rural family practitioner with obstetrical skills. Unlike other rural locum programs that are in place, the days are awarded to the community, rather than to specific physicians. 

Each locum assignment through the Rural Family Practice Enhanced Surgical Skills OB Locum Program must be a minimum of two days in length and requires sign-off by your Executive Medical Director.

Locums for Rural BC (LRBC) will administer the Rural Family Practice Enhanced Surgical Skills OB Locum Program following policies and procedures established by the JSC. LRBC will arrange assignments and travel for locums, who work as independent contractors with the program. 

To find out more, visit the Rural Family Practice Enhanced Surgical Skills OB Locum Program Policy website, created by the Ministry of Health. This page contains links to the Rural Family Practice Enhanced Surgical Skills OB Locum Program policy document, as well as all the forms required for the program: the Application to Provide Locum Services, Assignment of Payment, Application for Daily Rate and Travel Time and the Application for Travel Expenses. 

If you have any questions or any upcoming locum assignments confirmed, and would like to use the program, please notify View Email Addressinfo@locumsruralbc.ca with the following information:

• Host physician name

• Health authority

• Community

• Locum name

• Assignment dates

Locums must hold their billings until the assignments have been booked by the LRBC team.