Locum jobs

Be your own boss, deciding your own hours, where in the country you work, while negotiating your own pay.

Locum GPs enjoy more freedom than salaried GPs, for instance, since they’re only attached to a surgery for a certain period – and they’re always in demand. Just how in demand they are in a particular area will influence how much you earn.

Here are some GP locum jobs that give you the flexibility you need.

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FAQs about being a GP Locum / Sessional

  • How much can you earn as a locum GP?

    This depends on where you work. Larger towns and cities tend to have a higher concentration of available GPs, so your rate would be lower there, perhaps around £650 per day. In urban areas where there are fewer GPs, you can earn up to £800 per day. Some practices do offer pay rates of up to £1,000 per day.


  • Does locum work count as NHS service?

    Because of the wording of the model contract it is hard to give a definitive answer to this question. Paragraph 1.7 of the model defines NHS employment as previous work for an NHS trust, primary care organisation, strategic health authority or special health authority, together with time as a GP provider or performer. From this it could be argued that provided a GP is performing primary medical services then it doesn’t matter if it was as a locum. Depending on how paragraph 1.7 is interpreted, locum work may not count toward a GP’s entitlement to maternity/paternity, sickness and redundancy benefits.


  • What are the benefits of being a locum?

    There are several benefits to working as a locum GP.

    You’re in control – as a locum, you decide when and where you work. You can take time off when you want, work 10 sessions a week or just a couple. If a practice you locum at isn’t a good fit for you, you can choose not to book shifts there again.

    You’re the boss – you can set and negotiate your own pay. You also decide where you work and how far you travel for work. As a self-employed worker, you can also claim more expenses against your taxes to increase your annual income.

    Variety is the spice of life – working anywhere you want, you can pick up a block booking in an area of the country you want to visit, taking a week by the coast or in the Lake District. You also get to see how different practices operate to build your own experience and best practices. If you’re considering a salaried role for a few sessions or more, you can try out practices as a locum first to see if it suits you.


  • What hourly or daily rate can I expect?

    As a locum, pay rates depend on how many sessions you work, what your work involves and where in the country you’re based. As there tends to be a greater concentration of GPs in larger cities, you’ll find that the pay rate is lower than in more rural areas of the country with fewer GPs. For locum GP practice work, daily rates are usually £650 to £800, but this can be higher in some areas.


  • When do I get paid?

    For most locums, we pay weekly, one week in arrears on a Friday. There are some practices we work with who pay monthly. Before you accept work, we’ll let you know the specific pay arrangements we have with each practice.


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