There are many benefits to being part of a chambers if you are a GP locum, but what can you do if there is no chambers in your local area? Dr Richard Fieldhouse provides some advice.
The concept of GP locum chambers was first pioneered by the NASGP in 2002, and are generally small locally run collectives of self-employed freelance GPs, working together as a team with mutual professional support and a shared group identity to support local practices.
Outside of a chambers, working as a regular freelance GP locum can be a thoroughly isolating affair; you have to work out how to go about booking sessions, deal with issues related to working in struggling practices, and manage last-minute session cancellations on your own. You also may not have colleagues readily available to offload about a vexatious complaint you’ve had or work through case reviews for your next appraisal.
So working as part of a locum team, with support on-tap for any issues relating to locuming, and meeting regularly with colleagues who all share a similar professional identity, can lead to a greater sense of belonging. This is where being part of a chambers can make all the difference to a happy and fruitful career as a GP.
