Locum Life: What a Week Looks Like for a GP vs Hospital Doctor

Locum work continues to rise in popularity, and more doctors are exploring the flexibility and variety it offers. But while the term locum doctor applies across different settings, the day-to-day reality can differ greatly depending on whether you're working as a General Practitioner (GP) or in a hospital environment.

In this blog, we’ll take a side-by-side look at what a typical week looks like for a Locum GP versus a hospital locum doctor in 2025. It might help you decide which locum route best suits your lifestyle and goals.

GP Locum: A Week in the Life

Work Pattern:

• Monday to Friday (9am–5pm) or part-time days
• Evening or weekend shifts are optional, depending on the clinic or GP out-of-hours service
• Generally predictable schedule with minimal overnight commitment

Work Environment:

• Community-based clinics or medical centres
• Smaller teams, with more one-on-one patient time
• More control over patient flow and appointment types

Common Duties:

• Routine consultations (physical, mental health, chronic illness)
• Repeat prescriptions and referral letters
• Occasional home visits or minor procedures
• Admin time for notes and follow-up care

Pros:

• Predictable hours
• Minimal overnight work
• Familiar patient types and settings
• Strong continuity in local assignments

Challenges:

• Can involve a lot of admin
• Pressure to stay on time in tightly scheduled appointment slots
• Limited access to advanced diagnostic tools

Hospital Locum Doctor: A Week in the Life

Work Pattern:

• Shift-based: Days, nights, weekends, or on-call
• 8–12 hour shifts common
• Potential for longer hours or last-minute extensions

Work Environment:

• Acute hospitals, A&E, specialist departments, wards
• Fast-paced and often unpredictable
• Larger teams with varying hierarchies and support

Common Duties:

• Managing acute medical or surgical cases
• Working with multidisciplinary teams
• Attending ward rounds, responding to bleeps, writing discharge summaries
• Supporting rota gaps or high-demand periods

Pros:

• High clinical variety and exposure
• Access to state-of-the-art diagnostics and specialists
• Potential for higher pay for unsociable hours
• Keeps clinical skills sharp

Challenges:

• More intense workload and pressure
• Rotating teams and lack of continuity
• Can involve last-minute shifts or overnight work

Final Thoughts

Both GP and hospital locum roles offer fantastic opportunities for flexibility, independence, and professional growth. Your choice might depend on your preferred work-life balance, clinical interests, or financial goals.

Whether you enjoy the structured flow of a GP surgery or the dynamic pace of hospital medicine, there’s a locum path that can work for you and Locum Express is here to help you find it.

Ready to Start Your Locum Journey?

Get in touch with our team to explore open roles in clinics and hospitals across Ireland. Your next opportunity could be just a call away.