Taking leave as a solo practitioner

Taking time off can feel daunting — but remember that you are the most valuable asset in your practice. Even in your early days of private practice, it's important to start planning for regular holidays.

Just over half (52%) of retired surgeons (2,295 survey respondents) wished they had done some things differently during their career, with 24% saying they would have spent more time with family and taken better care of themselves.

— Stolarski A, Moseley JM, O’Neal P, Whang E, Kristo G. Retired Surgeons’ Reflections on Their Careers. JAMA Surg. 2020;155(4):359–361.

Doctors with lower self-rated health, lower self-rated life satisfaction (especially for male doctors) and those who had experienced a recent serious personal injury or illness were more likely to be sued.

— Bradfield OM, Bismark M, Scott A, et al. Vocational and psychosocial predictors of medical negligence claims among Australian doctors: a prospective cohort analysis of the MABEL survey. BMJ Open 2022;12:e055432.

Planning ahead

Good planning is key to a successful break. Think about upcoming family events, your personal goals for a holiday (rest, adventure, family time) and your work cycle. Identify quiet periods in your practice, and avoid booking time off during peak demand.

Get those potential dates in the calendar early. This helps you visualise the rhythm of the year and avoid overcommitment. Decide whether you’d rather have shorter, more frequent breaks or one longer trip — then plan accordingly.

Financial considerations

The biggest barrier to taking leave? Lost income. As a solo practitioner, no work often means no pay. But with foresight, you can ease the financial impact:

• Set up a dedicated ‘Travel’ savings account.
• Begin automatic contributions 6-12 months ahead of your planned time off.
• Estimate your likely income loss and ensure your budget can absorb it.

Practice coverage

Your absence shouldn’t mean disrupted care for your patients. Plan for coverage well in advance:

• Arrange a locum doctor or trusted colleague to manage your caseload. You can also try a medical recruitment agency, online job agencies such as Seek, or your professional networks.
• Make a list of high-priority patients and discuss them with the covering doctor.
• Ensure the covering doctor understands your results management system.
• Assign a staff member to handle incoming communication (mail, email, phone calls) in your absence.

Upon your return, allocate time to review what occurred while you were away, and check in on patients of concern.

Communication is key

Letting your patients and colleagues know your plans ahead of time builds trust and minimises confusion or anxiety about your availability. It is helpful to also:

• inform patients about your leave dates, who they can see in your absence, and when you’ll return; and
• provide clear, thorough documentation in your patient notes. Others may need to step in and rely on your records to deliver appropriate care.