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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.
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 doctors use locum work to experience different hospitals, specialties and ways of working before considering a permanent position. Others choose locum work as an ongoing part of their career.
For some, locum work provides an opportunity to supplement their income, while others use it as a bridge between training posts, after returning from overseas, or while considering their next career move in the UK. It can also offer the chance to explore different ways of working, including remote or telemedicine opportunities where available.
Here are some of the most common reasons doctors choose locum work:
- Flexibility and greater control over when and where they work
- Experience across different hospitals, organisations and clinical teams
- A different way to structure your career: Locum work can give you greater choice over when, where and how long you work, while maintaining the same professional responsibility for patient care
- 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 | Locum work can give you greater control over when and where you work, helping you find opportunities that fit around family, study, travel and life outside work. Long-term placements are also available for those looking for more stability. |
| Earning potential | Locum rates can vary according to specialty, grade, location, experience and demand. Rates may be higher for urgent, out-of-hours or difficult-to-fill requirements. |
| Variety and experience | Working across different hospitals, healthcare organisations and clinical teams can broaden your experience, develop new skills, strengthen your CV and build new professional connections. |
| 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. |
| Experience different settings across the UK | Locum work may also give you the opportunity to experience different parts of the UK, depending on the roles available. |
Things to consider about locum work
Locum work can offer greater flexibility, control and variety, but like any way of working there are factors worth considering before deciding if it's right for you.
It's also worth noting that this doesn't have to be an either-or decision. Many doctors combine a permanent NHS or private sector role with occasional locum work, while others choose to work as locums exclusively. The right approach will depend on your personal circumstances, career goals and lifestyle preferences.
The considerations below are designed to help you make an informed decision about what works best for you.
Things to consider
| Consideration | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Income may vary between assignments | The availability and length of placements can vary, particularly for doctors who prefer short-term assignments. However, many locums secure long-term placements that provide continuity and strong earning potential. |
| Adapting to new environments | Working across different healthcare organisations means becoming familiar with new teams, systems and ways of working. Many doctors find this helps broaden their experience and professional network. |
| Pension arrangements may differ | Depending on how you work and how you are engaged, pension arrangements may differ from those of a substantive NHS post. Understanding your options will help you make an informed choice. |
| Continuity varies by assignment | Some locum opportunities are short-term and ad hoc, while others offer long-term placements with greater continuity. The experience will depend on the role and organisation. |
| Managing professional requirements | You'll need to keep your compliance documentation, training, appraisal and revalidation requirements up to date. Medacs Healthcare can provide guidance and support throughout the process. |
| Building new professional relationships | Working across different organisations means regularly meeting new colleagues and adapting to new environments. While some doctors prefer the continuity of one team, others enjoy the variety and professional connections that locum work can offer. |
| Employment benefits may differ | Depending on how you choose to work, some employment benefits associated with permanent NHS roles may not be available in the same way. It's worth understanding these differences when comparing locum and substantive opportunities. |
These factors are simply worth considering as part of your decision-making process.
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 a framework-approved agency?
Many doctors choose to work through a framework-approved 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.
Working with an established recruitment agency can give you access to a wider range of opportunities, alongside support with registration, compliance and placements.
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.
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. |
| Long-term placements | A defined placement lasting weeks or months, often providing greater continuity and stability than individual shifts. |
| Specialty locum roles | Opportunities across a wide range of specialties and career stages, from training grades through to consultant level. |
| 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. |
| Remote work | Some locum opportunities can be delivered remotely using secure digital platforms. Depending on your specialty, this may include virtual consultations, clinical assessments, follow-up appointments and providing specialist advice to patients or healthcare teams |
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.
Locum doctors can work individual shifts or longer-term placements across hospitals, GP practices, remotely 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.
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 doctors register with multiple agencies, while others prefer to work primarily with one recruitment partner.
The right approach depends on your individual preferences, career goals and the type of opportunities you're looking for.
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
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.
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