Permanent GP recruitment vs locum GPs: What does your practice need?
For medical practices, finding the right GP is not always as simple as advertising a vacancy and waiting for applications.
A practice may need a doctor to cover an immediate gap, while another may be looking to build a permanent clinical team for long-term growth. In some cases, the best approach is a combination of permanent and locum staffing.
Understanding the difference between permanent GP recruitment and locum GP staffing can help practice owners and managers make better workforce decisions.
When permanent GP recruitment makes sense
Permanent recruitment is generally the better option when a practice has an ongoing need for a GP.
This may be the case when:
- A GP has permanently left the practice
- Patient numbers are consistently increasing
- The practice is expanding its services
- The practice wants to increase appointment capacity
- A GP is approaching retirement
- The business is building its long-term clinical team
A permanent GP can become an important part of the practice over time. They can develop relationships with patients, become familiar with the practice's systems and work closely with the existing clinical team.
For practices with predictable, long-term demand, permanent GP recruitment can provide greater workforce stability.
When a locum GP may be the better option
Not every staffing requirement is permanent.
Practices regularly experience short-term workforce gaps because of annual leave, illness, parental leave, professional commitments or unexpected resignations.
In these situations, a locum GP can provide immediate additional capacity without requiring the practice to make a permanent appointment.
Locum staffing can be particularly useful when a practice needs to:
- Cover planned leave
- Manage an unexpected vacancy
- Maintain appointment availability
- Support existing GPs during busy periods
- Manage temporary increases in patient demand
- Maintain services while recruiting permanently
For practice managers, this flexibility can help prevent a temporary workforce issue from becoming a longer-term operational problem.
You do not always have to choose one
Permanent and locum recruitment can work together.
For example, a GP may leave a practice unexpectedly. The practice needs immediate coverage, but finding the right permanent replacement could take several weeks or longer.
A locum GP can provide interim support while the permanent GP recruitment process continues.
This gives the practice time to identify the right long-term candidate without leaving existing GPs to absorb the additional workload.
Consider the cost of an unfilled GP position
The cost of recruitment is only one part of the equation.
An ongoing GP vacancy can affect appointment availability, patient access and the workload of the existing clinical team.
If other GPs are required to take on additional appointments, this can contribute to increased pressure and potentially affect staff satisfaction.
There can also be a financial impact when a practice is unable to offer appointments that could otherwise have been available.
For this reason, practices should consider the broader cost of leaving a position vacant when deciding how to manage a workforce gap.
What should practices consider before choosing?
There is no single staffing model that works for every medical practice.
Before deciding between a permanent GP and a locum, consider:
How long will the additional workforce be required?
If the need is ongoing, permanent recruitment may be more appropriate. If the requirement is temporary, locum staffing may provide greater flexibility.
How quickly do you need a GP?
If the vacancy is affecting daily operations, a locum can provide immediate support while permanent recruitment takes place.
What does your future workforce look like?
If patient numbers or services are expected to grow, permanent recruitment may form part of a broader workforce strategy.
Are you recruiting for a specific skill set?
Some practices may require GPs with particular experience, interests or availability. Understanding these requirements early can make recruitment more targeted.
Location can influence your recruitment strategy
Recruiting GPs can be particularly challenging in rural and regional areas.
A practice may have fewer local candidates available and may need to consider a wider recruitment strategy.
Locum placements can provide short-term workforce support while also giving doctors an opportunity to experience a practice and community before considering a longer-term commitment.
For practices outside major metropolitan areas, having access to a broader GP network can therefore be valuable.
Work with a specialist GP recruitment agency
Managing recruitment internally can be time-consuming, especially when practice managers are already responsible for day-to-day operations.
A specialist GP recruitment agency can help practices access a wider network of doctors for both permanent and locum opportunities.
The value of a recruitment partner should extend beyond simply providing CVs. Understanding the practice, its patient base, working environment and specific requirements can help create better matches between doctors and healthcare organisations.
The right model depends on your practice
Permanent GPs can provide stability, continuity and long-term capability. Locum GPs can provide flexibility and help practices manage immediate or temporary workforce requirements.
For many practices, the most effective approach is not choosing one over the other, but knowing when to use each.
At Nest Recruitment, we support medical practices and healthcare organisations with GP recruitment for locum, short-term, long-term and permanent positions.
If your practice is dealing with a current vacancy or planning for future workforce needs, choosing the right staffing model can help you maintain capacity while building a stronger clinical team.










