What’s a Locum GP?
A locum GP is a general practitioner who works on a temporary, sessional or short-term basis for GP practices, primary care networks or out-of-hours providers. Locums cover gaps caused by holidays, sickness, training days, recruitment gaps or sudden increases in demand. Some locums work ad hoc for a few sessions a month; others build a full-time career from a mix of longer-term block bookings and short assignments.
What They Do
Day-to-day duties for a locum GP are the same core clinical duties as other GPs: seeing and assessing patients, diagnosing and managing common conditions, issuing prescriptions, performing minor procedures where required, and making referrals. In addition, locums often need to familiarise themselves quickly with different practice systems, clinical protocols and local referral pathways. Administrative responsibilities vary by booking — some practices expect locums to complete full patient paperwork and QOF-related tasks, while others limit locum duties to direct clinical care.
Locum vs Salaried GP
- Flexibility: Locums can choose when and where to work, making the role attractive for doctors who want variable hours, portfolio careers or control over workload.
- Pay: Locums are often paid a higher rate per session or hour than salaried GPs, but they are responsible for their own tax, pension contributions, indemnity (unless provided by the practice), and usually have no paid annual leave or sick pay.
- Security and Benefits: Salaried GPs have predictable income, employer pension contributions, paid leave and other employment protections. Locums trade some of that security for higher short-term pay and flexibility.
- Career Development: Salaried roles may offer more structured CPD, appraisals and integration into practice governance. Locums often need to be proactive in maintaining their CPD, appraisal and revalidation processes.
Locum GP Salary (what to expect)
Locum GP pay varies by region, type of shift (in-hours, out-of-hours, weekends, bank holidays), and whether the booking is a single session, full day or a long block. Recent market guides and locum rate summaries show typical in-hours session/hour ranges and day rates that many locums see in 2024–2025. For example, commonly quoted bands for in-hours work are roughly £85–£110 per hour, with full-day bookings often falling into the mid-hundreds (for example £600–£850 per day) and premium rates for evenings, weekends or bank holidays. These published bands are a practical guide; actual pay can be higher in high-cost areas or for urgent last-minute bookings.
When translated into an annual equivalent, some locums who choose to work many sessions or secure regular block bookings report earnings in the range often cited for locum GP annual equivalents (examples in market articles vary, with some ranges reported around £156,000–£185,000 for high-hours locum portfolios). Remember that annualised figures for locums depend entirely on number of sessions worked and do not include the additional costs locums carry (tax, pension top-ups, indemnity, professional subscriptions, downtime between bookings)
Locum GP Trend in the UK
The wider context for locum work is mixed and evolving. On one hand, demand for primary care and patient contact has been rising and NHS workforce statistics show sustained pressure on GP services (official workforce data through March 2025 confirms the scale of the general practice workforce and rising patient lists). On the other hand, structural funding choices (for example expansion of ARRS roles that do not reimburse GPs) and local affordability issues have affected how many practices can engage locums or offer permanent sessions. This has produced a complex picture: while locum rates in market surveys have been strong in many areas, there have also been reports and surveys indicating many locums struggling to find consistent work or seeing a decline in ad-hoc bookings in some regions. The net effect is geographic and contractual variation — some areas and employers are paying well and seeking locums urgently, while others face funding limits that reduce locum opportunities.
Policy and contract changes can move the market: recent NHS updates in 2025 included uplifts that affect locum reimbursement entitlements, which may ease pressure in some settings — but local practice budgets, the makeup of staff roles and regional demand will continue to shape opportunities for locums. Keep an eye on official NHS workforce publications and professional bodies’ analyses for the most reliable, region-specific picture.
Practical tips if you’re considering locum work
- Check session rates and exactly what the practice expects you to do (QOF, admin, home visits, paperwork) before accepting a booking.
- Factor in non-pay costs: professional indemnity, tax, pension planning and paid leave equivalent.
- Consider registering with multiple reputable locum agencies and keep your CV, references and e-portfolio (for appraisal/revalidation) up to date.
- If you prefer steadier income and benefits, look for longer block locum contracts or consider salaried or partner roles instead.
If you’re looking for long-term or short locum GP positions, send your CV to admin@profdochealthcare.com or find and apply on our jobs page.