Meet Instant Book
Get booked smarter and faster – on your terms
Instant Book is a feature on LocumDeck that makes getting booked super simple and quick! No back-and-forth messages, no waiting around. Just add your availability and let practices book you directly for the work you want, entirely on your schedule. It’s fast, seamless, saves you time, and gives you an edge in securing the bookings you prefer, precisely when and how you want them.
Why GP locums love Instant Book
More time to do you…
- Benefit together: By saving time and avoiding agency fees, practices can often pay 10% more for Instant Bookings.
- Save time: No need to manually approve every booking. Once your calendar’s set, you’re ready.
- Plan ahead or for now: Secure bookings that suit your portfolio career and work-life balance, whether you’re looking for immediate work or planning months in advance.
- Clarity and control: Get booked only for the sessions and terms you define. Everything is logged automatically, providing a clear audit trail and complete peace of mind for both you and the practice
- Get more work: Practices love the speed and simplicity of Instant Book and are more likely to book you again.
Here’s how Instant Book works
You’re always in control with LocumDeck:
- Choose which practices can ‘Instant Book’ you
- Set your terms and the sessions you want to work
- Add your availability and keep your calendar up to date
That’s it! When practices see your availability on LocumDeck, they can book you straightaway, no back and forth messages, negotiations terms. LocumDeck records it all automatically.
Over 1,386 locums and more than a third of our practices are simplifying bookings with Instant Book.
Read what our members are saying about Instant Book
"I find Instant Book, the instant booking facility, invaluable - it is a huge time-saver. "
"Joining NASGP's Locum Chambers in Essex after CCT has been a fantastic decision for me. The Chambers structure provides support with my locum work as well as a peer support network with regular meetings.
The Chambers support also extends to support with complaints when these occur. This is an amazing benefit that helps to minimise the professional isolation that can come with being a locum.
The Instant Book feature within LocumDeck makes arranging sessions easy. Whilst getting things set up initially does take a bit of work, this eventually pays off and the return on this initial time investment is impressive. New features are always being added based on feedback from members. "
"You are notified the moment a GP locum adds availability which is just fantastic, I spend a lot of time just chasing agencies to see if they have availability, so to be notified the moment availability is advertised is a new concept and very welcome."
"I love getting an email to say 'a new GP locum has linked with your practice', especially when the offer of sessions is just what I’d been needing and it’s just dropped into my lap! It’s great to have everything in one place and be able to download documents so easily. LocumDeck makes the terms and conditions of each locum really clear, and I’ve built up a really good amount of offers from different GPs. It’s easy to keep track of invoices and pension forms, and it’s great that it’s free for practices to use too."
"Once we tried LocumDeck there was no going back. The platform has reduced the amount of admin time spent engaging and booking GP locums. It's been great to have all of the HR checks available in one place: no need to recruit new or to send out endless mailings to a group of trusted GP locums to see their availability."
What does Instant Book cost?
Instant Book makes booking work clearer, easier and faster. For Standard GP members (not in Locum Chambers) there’s a small booking fee of £15 per session. This covers everything that makes Instant Book seamless from setting up your availability and terms, linking to practices and the instant confirmations. All the Instant Bookings then feed into your usual LocumDeck automated invoicing and pension tracking that comes with NASGP membership.
And here’s the best part, Instant Book often pays for itself. Locums using it tend to secure more work, set slightly higher rates, and spend less time on admin, plus, it’s tax deductible!
If you join a Locum Chambers, you unlock lower Instant Book fees and a bundle of exclusive perks:
- Just £11 per session, and once you’ve worked 20 Instant Book sessions in a month, the rest are free
- Ongoing chambers support and a dedicated clinical director
- Monthly peer meetings and community support
- Automated monthly invoicing
- Exclusive discounts on indemnity, insurance, and learning platforms like Blue Stream Academy
Building a stronger locum community through Instant Book:
At NASGP, we’re more than just a platform, we’re a community built by and for locum GPs. When you use Instant Book on LocumDeck, you’re not just making your work life easier you’re helping fund and fuel a collective mission:
- To keep GP locums independent, supported, and professionally represented
- To offer practices a sustainable, ethical alternative to costly agencies
- To strengthen local healthcare by building direct, trusting relationships between locums and practices
Every membership and Instant Book session contributes to the bigger picture, enabling us to keep providing tools, advocacy, and personal support for locums like you, across the UK.
Join our community >
Be a locum voice for change in your area
As a locum, you’re in a unique position to champion better ways of working. When you share Instant Book with practices, whether in conversation or through your example, you’re helping spread a model that:
- Cuts admin for you and practices
- Delivers reliable, transparent bookings
- Puts more funding back into local care, not agencies
Many of our members become local ambassadors, helping practices understand the benefits of Instant Book, not just for them, but for the whole community.
Your support, through membership, Instant Book, or simply spreading the word, helps us keep flying the flag for GP locums. It keeps us independent. It keeps us growing. And it keeps the future of general practice in the hands of those who know it best: you.
Instant Book FAQs
What is Instant Book?
Instant Book is a feature on LocumDeck that allows practices to book you directly based on your availability, no back and forth messages, no waiting. You set the terms and availability, and once it’s live, practices can confirm bookings instantly.
How do I use Instant Book?
Just add your availability to your LocumDeck calendar, choose which practices can Instant Book you, and set your rates and session types. Once that’s done, practices can book you automatically.
Do I still have control over who books me?
Absolutely. You decide which practices can use Instant Book to book you, and you set all your own terms, location, session types, and rates.
What does Instant Book cost?
For Standard members, it’s £15 per session. NASGP Locum Chambers members pay only £11 per session, and once you’ve worked 20 Instant Book sessions in a month, the rest are free.
Is it worth the cost?
Yes, locums using Instant Book tend to earn more (on average £40 more per session), get booked faster, and spend far less time on admin. Plus, the fee is tax deductible.
What else do I get as a NASGP Locum Chambers member?
Along with lower Instant Book fees, you get chambers support, automated monthly invoicing, monthly peer meetings, and discounts on indemnity, insurance, and learning platforms.
How does Instant Book support the locum community?
Each session booked through Instant Book helps fund tools, advocacy, and support for independent locums across the UK. It also helps practices save money and build stronger relationships with locums, without relying on agencies.
Can I help spread the word?
Yes! Many locums become LocumDeck Instant Book ambassadors, sharing how it helps practices, cuts admin, and puts more funding into local care. Please contact us if you would like to become an locumDeck ambassador at info@nasgp.org.uk
Can I change my ‘Instant Book’ settings?
Absolutely. At any time, you can:
- Turn Instant Book on or off for any practice
- Adjust your session preferences per practice
- Add or remove Availability on your calendar
If you’re new to Instant Book, the “Get booked by practices” checklist on your LocumDeck homepage can guide you through setting it up.
Is Instant Book right for you?
Instant Book works best when your calendar is accurate and your profile is complete. This ensures practices have everything they need to book you with confidence. While it offers great flexibility and higher booking potential, you’ll want to keep your Availability up to date to avoid unexpected bookings and maintain strong relationships with practices.
Created by NASGP
Dr Richard Fieldhouse and Dr Sara Chambers founded NASGP in 1997 to provide healthcare professionals with an independent membership body that supports and enables practices and GP locums to work more efficiently together.
Supporting all locums and practices
In 2021, we expanded LocumDeck to include nurses, nursing associates, and healthcare assistants in addition to GP locums, and in 2023, we further broadened our platform to support general practice administrators and receptionists.
Meet the team
Our team works closely with our wide community of stakeholders – GP locums, GP practices, and a large number of eminent partners across UK healthcare to ensure our platform delivers what you need.
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