Pros and cons of being a Locum GP

What is a locum GP? GP stands for General Practitioner. Locum stands for temporary. So, to put that into context, a locum GP is a temporary General Practitioner. They are used when practices need extra capacity, such as during holiday periods or sickness cover.

When considering undertaking a locum General Practice job, there are many things which must be taken into consideration. There are pros and cons to being a locum GP which you have to think about first.

Pros:

Flexibility

The flexibility of being able to work at different practices and in different areas, giving you the chance to explore new places and enjoy a change of scenery.

Boost Earnings

The chance to pick up extra shifts when colleagues are on holiday or ill, which is the perfect opportunity to boost your earnings.

Opportunity

The opportunity to gain further experience. Joining a variety of practices that may have different processes will help you learn and progress further in your career.

Cons:

Control

You may not always have control over the hours you work or the type of patients you treat, so it is not always possible to fit locum work around other commitments.

Changes

Your contract may be changed at short notice if there is an unexpected need for more doctors at the practice.

These are all the things you need to think about when becoming a locum GP (and we hope this article has convinced you that you should!). Or if you would like to chat with our team more about this contact us on…