Locum vs Permanent Work in General Practice: Which Career Path Is Right for You?

Whether you're a GP, Nurse Practitioner, Practice Nurse, Paramedic, Physician Associate or Healthcare Assistant, choosing between locum and permanent work is one of the biggest career decisions you'll make. Here's what you need to know.

The way healthcare professionals work has changed dramatically over the last decade. While permanent roles continue to offer stability and progression, locum work has become an increasingly popular option for clinicians looking for flexibility, variety and greater control over their careers.

For many professionals working in primary care, the question isn't whether one option is better than the other—it's which one best fits their current stage of life and career.

There is no universal answer. Both permanent and locum work have significant advantages, and many clinicians move between the two throughout their careers.

Understanding the differences can help you make an informed decision that supports both your professional ambitions and your personal wellbeing.

What Is a Locum Role?

A locum clinician works on a temporary basis, providing cover for GP surgeries and other primary care providers.

Locum shifts may be arranged to cover:

• Annual leave
• Maternity or paternity leave
• Staff sickness
• Recruitment gaps
• Increased patient demand
• Seasonal pressures

Some clinicians choose occasional locum shifts alongside a permanent role, while others work exclusively as full-time locums.

The flexibility is one of the biggest attractions.

Permanent positions offer an employed contract with a single organisation.

These roles typically provide:

• Guaranteed income
• Annual leave
• Pension contributions
• Career progression
• Team continuity
• Long-term relationships with patients

For many healthcare professionals, this stability remains highly attractive.

The Benefits of Locum Work

Greater Flexibility

Perhaps the biggest advantage is having more control over your working life.

Many clinicians choose:

• Which days they work
• Which practices they work in
• How many hours they complete
• When they take holidays

This flexibility can be invaluable for parents, carers, those approaching retirement or clinicians studying alongside work.

Variety

• Every GP practice operates slightly differently.
• Working across multiple settings allows clinicians to experience different patient populations, clinical systems and working environments.
• Many professionals say this variety helps maintain enthusiasm for their career.
• Expanding Clinical Experience
• Working across different practices often exposes clinicians to a wider range of presentations and ways of working.

This can help develop confidence, adaptability and broader clinical knowledge.

Better Work-Life Balance

For many clinicians, flexibility is no longer considered a luxury.

Being able to reduce hours during busy family periods—or increase them when desired—offers a level of work-life balance that permanent contracts cannot always provide.

The Benefits of Permanent Employment

Stability

• Knowing exactly where you'll be working each week provides certainty.
• Permanent roles also offer predictable income and employment benefits.
• Continuity of Care
• Many clinicians enjoy building long-term relationships with patients.
• Seeing familiar faces and following patients through ongoing treatment can be highly rewarding.

Career Development

Permanent employers often provide structured development opportunities, including:

• Leadership roles
• Additional responsibilities
• Funded training
• Career progression pathways
• Being Part of a Team

Working consistently with the same colleagues helps build strong professional relationships and a supportive working culture.

For many clinicians, this sense of belonging is one of the biggest advantages of permanent employment.

Is Locum Work Right for Newly Qualified Clinicians?

This is a question recruitment consultants are often asked.

The answer depends on several factors, including experience, confidence and the requirements of individual practices.

Many surgeries understandably prefer experienced clinicians who can integrate quickly into busy teams.

However, newly qualified healthcare professionals may still benefit from discussing future locum opportunities as part of a longer-term career plan.

An experienced recruitment consultant can advise when the timing is right.

Can You Combine Both?

Absolutely.

Many healthcare professionals choose a hybrid approach.

For example:

A Practice Nurse may work three permanent days each week and complete occasional locum shifts. A GP may hold a salaried role while working additional weekend sessions. A Nurse Practitioner may increase locum work during school holidays or after reducing permanent hours.

This approach offers financial security alongside greater flexibility.

What Should You Consider Before Making a Decision?

Before choosing between permanent and locum work, it is worth asking yourself:

How important is flexibility? Do you enjoy variety or routine? Are you looking to maximise income? Do you value continuity with patients? Would you like to explore different practice environments? Are career progression opportunities important to you?

Your answers may change over time—and that's perfectly normal.

Many clinicians transition between different ways of working throughout their careers.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Recruitment Partner

Whether you're looking for permanent employment or flexible locum work, the recruitment agency you choose matters.

A specialist agency should take the time to understand:

• Your experience
• Your clinical competencies
• Your career aspirations
• Your preferred locations
• Your availability
• Your long-term goals

Recruitment should never simply be about filling vacancies.

The best agencies invest in building lasting relationships with the clinicians they support.

Why Thousands of Primary Care Professionals Choose Chase Medical

At Chase Medical, we've specialised exclusively in primary care recruitment for more than 13 years.

Today, our community includes more than 35,000 GPs, Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Physician Associates, Paramedics, Emergency Care Practitioners and Healthcare Assistants across the UK.

Whether you're looking for your next permanent role or the flexibility of locum work, you'll have a dedicated recruitment expert who gets to know you—not just your CV.

We also offer:

• Access to thousands of locum shifts and permanent vacancies
• A free mobile app with live shift notifications
• CV support and interview coaching
• Salary and package negotiation
• Ongoing compliance support
• Friendly, relationship-led service

Our aim has always been simple: to help healthcare professionals build careers that genuinely work for them.

Final Thoughts

There is no "best" career path in primary care.

Some clinicians thrive in permanent roles, while others enjoy the freedom and flexibility that locum work provides. Many successfully combine both.

The key is finding opportunities that align with your professional goals and personal priorities.

With the right advice, support and recruitment partner, you can build a career that evolves alongside your life—not the other way around.