For many GP locums, working through an agency might seem like the easiest way to find shifts and get booked quickly. But behind the convenience lie some risks – hidden costs, lack of transparency, exclusivity and a loss of control over working life. Over time, these issues can affect not only a GP’s income, but also their wellbeing, flexibility, and sense of professional autonomy.
The good news? There’s a better way. A platform designed and led by GPs – like LocumDeck – offers a smarter, safer, and more empowering alternative.
Hidden risks of GP locum agency work
One of the biggest issues with traditional agencies is the lack of transparency. Agencies often set rates and terms behind closed doors, taking cuts from both the GP and the practice – sometimes without either party fully realising how much is being lost along the way. GPs may not see their true market value or understand what practices are really paying for their time.
Then there’s exclusivity, with their contractual smallprint meaning if you then go on to get a permanent role at a practice, or work for them as a locum within a fixed period (often a full 12 months) of your last session there, they can reserve the right to charge you or the practice with a hefty fee – typically 15% of your annual salary.
Then there’s the issue of control. Agencies often prioritise their own business needs above the wellbeing of individual GPs. Shifts may be offered with little notice, bookings confirmed without proper consultation, and GP locums pressured into accepting work that doesn’t suit their preferences or schedule.
This can quickly lead to burnout, as GPs lose the flexibility and freedom that drew them to locum work in the first place. Instead of being able to shape a working week that suits their lifestyle, they find themselves boxed into rigid, agency-driven rotas with limited input into how and when they work.
Points of difference: GP-led platforms
Case study: LocumDeck
LocumDeck is different because it was designed and built by GPs who understand exactly what GP locums need. The platform puts the power back where it belongs – with the GP.
On LocumDeck, GPs set their own rates, define their own terms, and choose their own sessions. There’s no middleman negotiating behind the scenes, and no hidden fees. GPs and practices connect directly, with clear, mutual understanding of availability, expectations, and cost. And importantly, there’s no exclusivity clause, you can easily work for the practice independently, in any way you like, with no risk of a heavy penalty.
This direct model brings greater transparency and fairness to every booking. GPs see exactly what they’ll earn, and practices know exactly what they’re paying for. The result is a relationship built on trust – not transactions.
It also allows for genuine flexibility. GP locums can tailor their work to fit their lives, not the other way around. Whether they want to work one session a week or full time, LocumDeck gives them the tools to do it on their terms.
And perhaps most importantly, using a GP-led platform helps GP locums feel professionally respected and understood. Every feature of LocumDeck was built with a deep knowledge of the challenges GP locums face, and it continues to evolve with feedback from those who use it.
GP-led platforms: benefits
Agency work might promise ease, but it comes at a cost. For GP locums who want control, clarity, and a system designed with their needs in mind, platforms like LocumDeck are the smarter, safer choice.
Because no one understands what GPs need better than other GPs.
