Locum doctors play an important role in health and social care. They provide vital extra capacity in up to half of all GP surgeries at a time of growing workload pressure for permanent staff1. Working as a locum is more widespread than you might think – some estimates suggest that as many as one in five doctors in the UK currently work in a locum capacity2
At a time when the NHS is struggling to fill more than 90,000 vacancies and clear a backlog of close to six million patients awaiting treatment3, it’s fair to say that moving to a role as a locum doctor is a viable option for any doctor seeking greater flexibility, or simply wishing to help out where demand is greatest.
However, if you are thinking about becoming a locum doctor – whether in GP surgeries, hospitals or private practice – there is a lot to consider before making the move.
In the UK, the term locum doctor refers to a doctor who temporarily fills a role in a hospital, GP practice or clinic. That could mean, for example, working in a GP surgery for a single day, or providing maternity cover for several months.
The vast majority of locums work in the NHS, in GP surgeries or hospitals, though some locum doctors are also employed by private practices and even non-medical businesses that require regular easy access to medical skills.4
There is no single answer here, as locum doctor hourly rates vary depending on their level of experience, specialist skills and seniority.
However, the ability to earn better pay is one of the main factors that doctors cite as a benefit of working as a locum, so there is clearly a balance to strike. For example, a locum doctor’s pay can be over £100,000 per year – in line with the pay of a salaried consultant – but that may mean putting up with anti-social working hours when rates are often at their highest.5
Generally, there are two ways to find work as a locum doctor. The first is via NHS ‘staff banks’ – essentially pools of doctors registered to NHS Trusts, which are the first port of call if a care setting managed by that Trust requires additional temporary staff.6
The second option is to find work via privately run locum agencies that specialise in filling vacant shifts with locum doctors. These agencies will usually only be asked to fill vacancies if a staff bank fails to do so – which may mean they tend to offer more ad hoc roles with unsociable hours.6
That said, a locum agency may offer more support, essentially operating as a recruitment consultant by guiding you through the process of finding the right locum roles based on their knowledge of which hospitals will have shifts, who pays the most, and where the work might be easier or more difficult.6
How you are taxed as a locum doctor will depend on how you are paid. For instance, if you work through an agency you will effectively be treated as an employee – either by the Trust employing you or the agency. In this scenario, you will be taxed at source in the normal way.
However, you may decide to set up a limited company in order to invoice and take payment for your locum work, then pay yourself a salary or take money from the business in the form of dividends. This route may slightly reduce tax bills, but you will almost certainly need an accountant to help you work through the complexities.7
There are plenty of upsides to life as a locum doctor, including: 4
Equally, however, there are some potential downsides that it’s worth being aware of: 8
The insurance you need will depend on the setting you work in as a locum doctor and, to an extent, your attitude to risk.
You might need specialist medical practice insurance to protect against professional errors and omissions or help defend claims made against you as a result of your work as a locum doctor.
On top of that, given the lack of sick pay that is a feature of locum work, you may want to consider covers such as personal accident and income protection insurance, which can help replace lost earnings if you are unable to work due to illness or injury.
For more information, read about the specialist medical practice insurance available from Marsh Commercial, or get in touch with one of our experts for help and advice.
Sources