Looking for up to date info? Read our updated ‘starting out’ guide, out 7 March.
1 Ask yourself what is important to your locum career
The first thing you need to ask yourself as a newly-qualified GP is what do you want from work and what your priorities around work are – this will guide how you find your work as a sessional GP.
You may have worked as a trainee in a practice that you feel comfortable in; maybe you are a good fit in that team and feel you would benefit from having the support from a practice that you already know – that’s fine. If the environment is one you can feel comfortable and thrive in then it’s a great place to start. You could start your career working as a salaried GP or perhaps a fixed term locum covering maternity, or even by offering additional sessions which CCGs provide ‘winter’ funding for during periods of high demand – lots of these right now!
Alternatively, you might have a group of practices that you know others in, or that are local to a hospital with referral pathways and community services that you are familiar with – this is also a good way to start after VTS.