Submit CV
Explore new opportunities in healthcare.
- Home
- Doctors Jobs
- What Is Locum Work
What is Locum Work?
Is locum work right for you?
Over the years, we've worked with doctors at every stage of their career, from junior doctors exploring their first locum shifts to experienced consultants looking for greater flexibility.
Some choose locum work for the freedom it offers. Others are looking for new experiences, higher earning potential or a way to bridge a gap between permanent roles.
This guide explains how locum work works in practice, the different opportunities available, what to expect from the registration and compliance process, and some of the advantages and challenges to consider before taking the next step.
What is locum work?
Locum work is temporary medical work. The word locum comes from the Latin locum tenens, meaning "to hold the place of".
In practice that is exactly what you will do. A locum doctor is a qualified doctor who works on a temporary basis when a hospital, GP practice or other healthcare organisation needs additional medical cover.
Assignments can vary. You may work a single shift, cover annual leave for a few weeks, or take on a fixed-term placement lasting several months. Some doctors choose to work regularly in the same organisation, while others prefer to work across multiple hospitals, trusts or practices.
What makes locum work different from a permanent role is the level of flexibility it can offer. Depending on the opportunities available and your personal circumstances, you can often choose where you work, when you work and how much you work.
Why do doctors choose locum work?
The doctors we work with choose locum work for many different reasons, and those reasons often change throughout their careers.
Some are looking for greater flexibility around family life, study or other commitments. Others want to experience different hospitals, specialties or ways of working before committing to a permanent role.
For some, locum work provides an opportunity to increase their earnings, while others use it as a bridge between training posts, after working overseas, or while considering their next career move.
Here are some of the most common reasons doctors choose locum work:
- Flexibility and greater control over when and where they work
- The opportunity to earn higher rates than some substantive roles
- Experience across different hospitals, organisations and clinical teams
- A break from the demands and responsibilities of a permanent post
- The ability to bridge gaps between training, placements or career moves
- Building a portfolio career alongside education, research, leadership or other professional interests
For many doctors, flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of locum work.
However, locum work also comes with different responsibilities and considerations compared to a permanent role.
Understanding both is important when deciding whether it is the right option for you.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of locum work?
The doctors we work with often tell us that flexibility is one of the main reasons they choose locum work. However, flexibility is only one part of the picture.
Like any career choice, locum work comes with both advantages and challenges. Understanding both can help you decide whether it is the right fit for your career, lifestyle and personal circumstances.
The benefits of locum work
| Benefit | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Flexibility | You have greater control over when and where you work. Many doctors choose locum work because it can fit around family commitments, study, travel or other priorities. Long-term placements and block bookings are also available for those looking for more stability. |
| Earning potential | Depending on your specialty, grade and location, locum rates can be higher than some substantive roles, particularly for hard-to-fill shifts and specialties. |
| Variety and experience | Working across different hospitals, healthcare organisations and clinical teams can broaden your experience, develop new skills and strengthen your CV. |
| Greater career control | Locum work can give you more freedom over the roles and organisations you work with, helping you shape your career around your interests and goals. |
| Workload flexibility | Many doctors value the ability to increase or reduce the amount they work as their circumstances change. |
| Portfolio career opportunities | Locum work can sit alongside education, research, leadership responsibilities, specialist interests or other professional commitments. |
What are the challenges of locum work?
Like any way of working, locum work comes with considerations as well as benefits. Some doctors find these challenges manageable, while others prefer the structure and certainty of a permanent role.
Understanding these factors will help you make a more informed decision about whether locum work is right for you.
Things to consider
| Consideration | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Income can be less predictable | Work is not always guaranteed. However, doctors who work with established agencies that supply to multiple NHS trusts and healthcare organisations often have access to a wider range of opportunities throughout the year. |
| No paid holiday or sick leave | Unlike most substantive roles, locums are generally only paid for the work they complete. Time away from work usually needs to be planned and budgeted for. |
| Pension arrangements differ | Pension arrangements can vary depending on the type of work you undertake and how you are engaged. It's important to understand how this compares to a substantive NHS post. |
| Less continuity in some roles | Some locum assignments are short-term or ad hoc, while others offer long-term placements and block bookings. The experience can vary significantly depending on the role and organisation. |
| Additional administration | Compliance, tax, appraisal and revalidation requirements still need to be maintained. A good agency should provide support and guidance, but it remains important to keep your records up to date. |
| It can feel isolating at times | Moving between teams and organisations means regularly meeting new colleagues and adapting to different environments. Some doctors enjoy the variety, while others prefer the continuity and relationships that come with a permanent team. |
None of these should put you off.
None of these considerations necessarily make locum work better or worse than a permanent role. They are just different.
For many doctors, the additional flexibility outweighs the trade-offs. For others, the structure, stability and employment benefits of a substantive post are a better fit. Understanding your priorities is often the best way to decide which option is right for you.
How does locum work actually work?
Although every doctor's circumstances are different, the process is usually straightforward.
Most doctors choose to work through a recruitment agency, which helps manage compliance requirements, matches them with suitable opportunities and supports them throughout the placement process.
In most cases, the journey looks something like this:
1. Register with an agency
You'll provide your CV, professional details and the documents needed to complete compliance checks.
2. Discuss your preferences
Your recruiter will talk to you about your specialty, grade, preferred locations, availability and the type of work you're looking for.
3. Review available opportunities
You'll be offered shifts, sessions or placements that match your experience and preferences.
4. Accept the roles that work for you
You decide which opportunities you would like to pursue and which are the best fit for your circumstances.
5. Complete the work and get paid
Once you've worked your shift or placement and submitted the required timesheet information, payment is usually processed weekly through PAYE or another approved payment arrangement.
Why do most locum doctors work through an agency?
Many doctors choose to work through an agency because it can simplify the administrative side of locum work, including compliance, onboarding and access to opportunities.
The level of support can vary between agencies, so it is worth understanding what services are provided and who will support you throughout your registration and placement process.
What types of locum work are available?
Locum work comes in many different forms, depending on your specialty, availability and career goals. Some doctors prefer the flexibility of individual shifts, while others look for longer-term placements that offer greater continuity and stability.
Common types of locum work include:
| Type of locum work: | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Ad-hoc shifts | Individual shifts booked as needed. This offers maximum flexibility and can be a good option for doctors looking to fit work around other commitments. |
| Block Bookings | A series of shifts booked over a longer period, often several weeks or months in advance. These placements can provide greater consistency while maintaining the benefits of locum work. |
| Fixed-term placements | A defined placement lasting weeks or months, often providing greater continuity and stability than individual shifts. |
| Specialty locum roles | Opportunities aligned to your specialty, grade and experience level, from SHO and registrar roles through to consultant appointments. |
| Insourcing | Working as part of a clinical team brought in to help healthcare organisations increase capacity, often supporting waiting list reduction programmes and additional clinical services. |
Why work with Medacs Healthcare?
Medacs Healthcare has supported doctors with locum and permanent opportunities for more than 35 years.
As an approved supplier on major healthcare frameworks, including Crown Commercial Service (CCS), HealthTrust Europe and NHS Scotland, we provide access to a wide range of opportunities across the NHS and private sector throughout the UK.
Whether you're exploring your first locum role or looking for your next placement, our specialist teams can help you understand your options, navigate compliance requirements and find opportunities that match your experience, specialty and career goals.
How do I get started?
Register your interest and send us your up-to-date CV.
A specialist recruiter will discuss your experience, career goals and the type of work you're looking for, before guiding you through the registration and compliance process.
Once you're ready to work, we'll help you find opportunities that match your specialty, grade and preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
A locum doctor is a qualified medical professional who works on a temporary basis rather than in a permanent post.
Locum doctors can work individual shifts, block bookings or longer-term placements across hospitals, GP practices and other healthcare settings.
Locum doctor pay varies depending on specialty, grade, location, experience and demand.
Hard-to-fill specialties, out-of-hours work and urgent cover often attract higher rates. Your recruiter should always explain rates clearly before you accept a role.
In most cases, locum doctors are only paid for the work they complete.
Unlike substantive NHS roles, locums do not usually receive paid annual leave or occupational sick pay, so time away from work often needs to be planned and budgeted for.
Yes. Many doctors undertake locum work alongside substantive NHS or private sector roles.
Some use locum shifts to supplement their income, while others use them to gain additional experience or explore different clinical settings.
Yes. Many locum doctors register with multiple agencies to access a wider range of opportunities, locations and working patterns.
Pension arrangements can vary depending on the type of locum work you undertake and how you are engaged.
It's important to understand how this compares with a substantive NHS post before committing to locum work.
Useful resource:
Tax arrangements depend on how you are engaged and paid.
Many locum doctors work through PAYE arrangements, although other payment methods may be available depending on the organisation and role.
Useful resource:
Take your time, and decide what's right for you
There's no rush, and no pressure.
Locum work is a big decision, and the right choice is the one that fits your life, your finances and your goals.
If it's something you'd like to explore, we're here to help you think it through honestly, and if it's right for you, to make it happen.
That, more than anything, is the difference we make together.
Get in touch