How Do Locum Salaries Look in 2023

The role of the locum doctor has changed significantly in recent years. Once seen as a stop-gap measure, locum doctors are now an essential part of the medical workforce in the UK. Locum doctors provide vital cover when permanent staff is on leave, sick, or there is a sudden increase in demand.

There are many benefits to being a locum doctor, including the flexibility to choose when and where you work. Locum salaries are also very competitive, and in some cases can be higher than permanent salaries.

So how will locum salaries look in 2023? 

Here's what we predict.

Currently, the estimated salary for a Locum is £14,000 per year on average in the England area. This is expected to increase in 2023. According to a Statista survey, earnings in the UK are expected to increase by 3.1 percent in 2022 and 3.3 percent by 2023. In 2018, there was a difference of 45 pence per hour between the hourly national minimum and national living wage. This gap was expected to grow to 96 pence per hour by 2023.

Predicted increase in demand for locum doctors

The NHS is facing an unprecedented staffing crisis. There are over 100,000 vacancies for permanent staff, and this is only expected to increase in the coming years. This means that there will be an increasing demand for locum doctors to fill the gaps.

As a result of this increased demand, we predict that locum salaries will rise significantly in 2023. Locum doctors with the necessary skills and experience will be able to command higher rates, and we expect the average locum salary to be around 30% higher than it is today.

There will also be a greater variety of roles available for locum doctors, as hospitals and GP surgeries look to fill more specialist positions. This could include roles such as GP locums, A&E locums, and paediatric locums.

What skills will be in demand?

As the role of the locum doctor becomes more important, we predict that certain skills will be in higher demand. These include:

Excellent communication skills:

Locum doctors need to be able to quickly build rapport with patients and staff. They also need to be able to clearly communicate complex medical information.

Flexibility:

Locum doctors need to be flexible in terms of their hours and working location. They may be asked to work at short notice, or outside of normal hours.

Adaptability: 

Locum doctors need to be able to adapt to new and challenging situations. They may be working in unfamiliar environments, or with new teams of staff.

Good time management:

Locum doctors need to be able to manage their time effectively, as they will often have to juggle multiple tasks and responsibilities.

How to become a locum doctor

If you're interested in becoming a locum doctor, the following are things you need to do:

• Firstly, you'll need to ensure that you have the necessary qualifications and experience. Most locum doctors will be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), and will have at least five years of post-qualification experience.
• You'll also need to join a locum agency, which will help you to find work and negotiate salaries. It's important to choose an agency that is reputable and has a good track record.
• Finally, you'll need to make sure that you have the right insurance in place. This will protect you from any potential claims that may be made against you while you're working.

Locum doctor salaries are set to rise significantly in the next few years, as the demand for locum doctors increases.

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