UK Locum Work

Locum Work in the UK

Leaving your familiar surroundings and colleagues behind to work as a locum doctor in the UK can be challenging. We understand your concerns and fears and as such we at Fresh Medical Recruitment will go the extra mile to ensure a seamless transition from your current position and location to the UK. Although the process is complicated we make every effort to ensure that the transition will be as stress free as possible.

Some of the most frequently asked questions about working as a locum doctor in the UK have been answered below. A few useful tips are provided to ensure that you are armed with vital information for your arrival in the UK. We have also listed links which can be followed to relevant authorities.

Registration Requirements

All doctors that want to work in the UK in one of the physician jobs must register with the General Medical Council known as the GMC. Registration is a mere formality for EU citizens who hold qualifications from EU universities. Doctors from other countries must meet the requirements of the GMC for registration regarding physician jobs. Please visit their website at www.gmc-uk.org for current information. You can also visit our section GMC Registration for comprehensive guidance regarding qualifications, identity checks, and documents to register as a locum doctor.

Professional Insurance

You do not have to obtain insurance if you are working as a locum doctor in the National Health Service (NHS). It is however, a requirement if working in the private healthcare sector. Please check with your insurance provider whether or not the cover is also valid in the UK.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

It is always a good idea to take out professional indemnity cover which can be obtained from professional associations as add-on member benefits.

Personal Information

You will need certain documents for opening a bank account or renting an apartment if you want to apply for one of the physician jobs. The following documents should be in place:

• Last three months’ bank statements
• Bank validated proof of address
• Letter of good standing from your bank
• Passport
• Valid visa
• Travel insurance
• Vaccination certificates
• CV or registration details
• Proof of no-claims bonus from your insurers
• You will also benefit from having a credit check done.

Since September 11, 2001 regulations regarding bank accounts have made it rather difficult to open a bank account without the relevant documents. We will advice you on any required documents for opening accounts.

Living Costs in the UK

You can obtain information on exchange rates at www.rate.co.uk. In terms of groceries it is difficult to give an estimate, but you will be able to get a general idea of the cost of groceries and thus budget more accurately at UK supermarket sites such as www.tesco.com.

Accommodation Costs

If the client provides accommodation for the locum doctor the cost is around £50 to £70 a week. If private accommodation is selected the most affordable option for a single locum doctor is flat or apartment sharing. If you have dependants, we suggest looking at the various UK property sites for rental options.

National Insurance Number

To obtain a National Insurance Number (NI number) for the physician jobs you will need to provide proof of identity and attend an interview to establish your identity. You will be required to show the original documents such as your Identity Document, Passport, Visa, and letters from the future or current employer. It takes around 6 to 8 weeks to get the number.

Job Experience

Most of the positions advertised require at least 6-12 months experience.

Visas

To work as a locum doctor in the UK, you will require a valid visa. You cannot work as a locum doctor with a tourist or holiday visa. There are various visa options such as working holiday, highly skilled immigrant work program visas, and UK ancestry visas. We have provided full information on visa requirements in our section on Visa requirements. Please view the visa requirements page for more information and contact us if you are unsure about the requirements.

Work permits

If you want to apply for a locum doctor job in the UK, you may not get a work permit. You will however, need to get a relevant visa such as Ancestry or the HSMP visa. More information about visas for locum medical jobs is available at our site under Visa Requirements.