An A-Z guide to being a GP locum

Dr Burnt Out shares his – at times tongue-in-cheek, but always helpful – top tips to surviving and thriving as a GP locum

There is something intrinsically challenging about going to an area you have never been to before, a GP surgery where you do not know anyone, and then being given a list of 50 people (none of whom you have seen previously), all with a myriad of medical and non-medical problems for you to solve or help with.

Such is the life of a GP locum. While I cannot fix the system, I can try and do the next best thing: please see below for a truthful A-Z of tips for anyone considering the locum life and how to get the best out of it.

A. Always introduce yourself to reception and admin when you arrive at the surgery – if you are nice to them, they will help you out in more ways than you can imagine.

B. Be punctual, if not early. There is nothing worse than arriving late and then waiting 30 minutes for the computer to login whilst the first patient is waiting

C.  Car – if you are driving make sure you get a parking permit or equivalent as needed. The last thing you want is a parking ticket, or clamp.

D. Documents Make sure you have all your locum documents needed in an electronic and possibly paper form. If you are signed up to a locum platform, they will have all your documents and remind you when they are expiring. The main documents you need are CV, passport enhanced DBS certificate, GMC certificate etc. but the more you have (such as mandatory training certificates) the better.

E. Enjoy and explore the area you are working in; if you get a chance have a look around. You may not be going back so it may be the last time you are ever going to be in that area. 

F. Forge good relationships with everyone you meet at the surgery and try to have a chat. You never know they might ask you to stay if you find that you are mutually compatible 

G. Get a good and sturdy doctors’ bag or rucksack

H. Have a thick skin. It is surprising how many quite rude people you can meet (patients and staff). Of course there are many lovely people also.

I. Invoices. Remember to invoice quickly and agree on a date by which payment should be made. Working and then not being paid for weeks or months can be extremely irritating and frustrating – and in this climate, completely unsustainable.

J. Just try and enjoy it if possible. Make a good connection and do all you can to help patients that you almost certainly will not see again. You can change people’s lives in a very positive and fundamental way through just one consultation where you have listened to them, shown empathy, and good clinical acumen.

K. Keep good records – electronic, paper or otherwise – of your locum sessions, date, location, and duration

L. Laugh. Try and have a laugh if possible

M. Make good clear notes, plans, and referrals; whether using AI tools or doing it the old-fashioned way. Discuss any follow-ups or tricky cases with one of the regular GPs. Many people now use AI for letters and documentation. Personally, I prefer not to, as the results can sound a tad… well, robotic.

N. No. Just say no to anything that seems unreasonable, unnecessary, or dangerous

O. Organise your day so that, if possible, you can have a brief walk. You cannot spend 12 hours straight staring at a screen and sending text messages to patients – your brain will turn into mush.

P. Packed lunch – bring one so you can scoff it at your desk while catching up on admin. Try not to shed a tear into your lunch as you remember that you had a chance to go to Sydney last year, but decided not to and that you are now doing a locum in Dover.

(Just whatever you do, refrain from eating your lunch in your car in a Morrisons car park between visits; I did that once and it truly was a low point of near total despair.)

Q. Quit whilst you are ahead. If you really do not like a practice and the way it feels do not go back. Trust your gut instincts

R. Room – leave it tidy when you are finished for the day. Put things back in cupboards and dispose of urine pots and pregnancy tests etc. Get rid of the crumpled blue paper on the examination couch and double check that you have not accidentally put the practice’s BP machine or pulse oximeter in your bag – it is honestly more likely than you think and unsurprisingly practices get pissed off when this happens and are likely not to ask you back.

S. Shout ‘help’ and press the panic button if you get into any trouble with any aggressive patients (or colleagues).

T. Time-keeping. If necessary, ask for catch up slots to be put into your clinics. As you are in a new environment you are likely to run a bit slower than usual, and that is fine.

U. Understand that each session has a cognitive and empathic hit to your soul. With this work out the optimum number of sessions per week or month for you to keep you financially afloat and spiritually healthy

V. Virtual consultations are complete crap. They often are impersonal and unproductive , and make it harder to build rapport. Try and get face to face if possible as they are safer and more efficient and you might meet some interesting people. 

W. Walk around the practice when you arrive or during the day and say hello and chat to people who you meet. This way you get a good ‘feel’ of the practice and again trust your instincts and intuition

X. X is a hard letter to make a comment about GP locum life. I was going to use the word Xylophone but decided against it.

Y. Yawn – you may have had a tiring week but try not to yawn in front of the practice manager. Or patients. The same applies to yodelling.

Z. Zebra. You may spot one during the day. There is evidence that locums can spot Zebras better than the regular GP. The ‘anti-continuity of care’ argument (not popular currently). 

Basically, enjoy it; earn money; see new places; meet new people; and make connections. It may not be glamorous and it may not be suitable for you forever (if of course there even is work). But working as a GP locum is rewarding. Locum work won’t solve the wider problems in general practice, but it will remind you of its best parts; freedom, variety, and the privilege of meeting all sorts of people.

Dr Burnt Out is a GP locum in London