One in four general practitioners - fully qualified doctors specialising in family medicine - in the UK work as freelance locum GPs. We're the most professionally isolated of all workers in the National Health Service NHS, and the NASGP exists to support both locum GPs and salaried GPs to improve patient care and make their work more fulfilling and enjoyable.
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60 recent
October 27, 202634 min
Navigating NHS primary care structures as a locum GP with Gary Hughes
In this episode of the NASGP podcast, Richard Fieldhouse is joined by Gary Hughes from Leadership in Practice to explore the intricate organizational structures of the NHS. Designed specifically for the sessional workforce, this discussion demystifies key terms like PCN, ICB, and neighborhoods, offering practical guidance on how locum GPs can better understand the system, engage with local leaders, and enhance their professional impact. YouTube version https://youtu.be/SVbD4OkDBwE Resources: NASGP Website Leadership in Practice
August 14, 202631 min
Empowering patients: the art of the health coaching consultation
Are you a locum GP struggling to make a meaningful impact during short 10-minute consultations? Dr. Ollie Hart joins us to reveal how simple health coaching techniques can empower patients to take charge of their own wellbeing. What You Will Learn: How to apply "Agency" and "Capability Theory" to your daily clinical practice. Why the sessional workforce is uniquely positioned to drive patient-led health outcomes. Strategies for tailoring your communication based on a patient's level of "activation." How to integrate coaching into short appointments to build patient confidence without running over time. Why continuity of care is about more than just seeing the same doctor—it's about building a patient's self-management capability. Topic order: From anaesthetics to the pain clinic The essence of general practice: Helping people look after themselves Understanding Amartya Sen’s Capability Theory Tailoring your approach to patient activation The future of the sessional workforce Managing energy and finding joy as a GP Resources: Peak Health Coaching https://peakhealthcoaching.com/ NASGP Membership https://www.nasgp.org.uk/ LocumDeck: The professional toolkit for sessional GPs https://www.nasgp.org.uk/locumdeck/
July 17, 202651 min
Dr Kamilla Porter - Navigating life changes and flexibility in general practice
Host Dr Richard Fieldhouse sits down with Dr Kamilla Porter to explore the rich possibilities of the modern sessional workforce. Kamilla shares her experiences moving between over a dozen different practices, explaining how experiencing diverse operational styles gave her the insight to champion better conditions for part-time doctors. From launching the long-running Essex Sessional GP Conference to her recent appointment as a Training Programme Director, Kamilla demonstrates how tenacity, an open mind, and a supportive network can empower portfolio careerists to shape general practice on their own terms
June 26, 20261 hr 0 min
Managing your locum career finances: pensions, protection, and planning
Financial planning can feel overwhelming for GP locums, especially when you are trying to balance self-employed income with a busy clinical schedule. This episode breaks down the essentials of protecting your career and securing your future, from your first locum pay packet to navigating complex pension decisions as you approach retirement. Also as a YouTube video https://youtu.be/kFo6BPWhWl0 * How to build a robust safety net with income protection and emergency funds, even when starting out. * Why understanding the NHS pension scheme early is critical, and how to track your contributions effectively. * Practical steps for navigating mortgage applications and "fiscal cleanliness" as a self-employed GP. * A straightforward breakdown of the McCloud remedy and new partial retirement options for senior clinicians. 0:00 – The importance of financial planning for sessional GPs. 2:15 – Protect your income 8:45 – NHS pensions for sessional GPs 14:20 – Short-term sickness cover vs. emergency fund 19:10 – Getting a mortgage as a GP locum 26:30 – Retirement planning 48:48 – McCloud: The remedy period Resources: https://www.nasgp.org.uk https://www.chasedevere.co.uk Important information • Levels and bases of, and relief from taxation is subject to change. • The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. • The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate taxation advice, estate planning, inheritance tax planning, cashflow modelling, wills or trusts. • The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances, tax legislation and regulation which are subject to change. You should seek advice to understand your options at retirement. • None of the content of this webinar should be taken as a recommendation and you should always seek professional advice before taking any actions. #GPLocum #GPlocums #generalpractice #generalpractitioner
April 13, 202647 min
LinkedIn tips for GPs
Are you a sessional GP who needs to stay visible and connected between bookings? This conversation with social media expert Debbie Ford gives you 10 practical, low-effort tips to transform your LinkedIn profile into your professional shop window. View on YouTube Join NASGP's community to download Debbie's slides – subscribe on nasgp.org.uk for the link. Learn –How to optimise your profile for better discovery on Google search and AI tools. –The difference between following and connecting to build your professional network with other GPs. –How to use the scheduling tool to batch content about your GP work and career. –Simple strategies to interact with key organisations like NASGP, your local ICB, and fellow NASGP members to amplify your voice. –Why the 'one post, one message' rule helps GPs write effectively. Practices think carefully about who they bring in as a locum. Your network and online presence play a part in that. In this video Debbie shares ten practical tips to help you strengthen your profile, connect with the right people, and make this platform work for you. If you’d like more tailored support, Debbie offers a one-hour ‘Super Sixty’ session for NASGP members (£150), focused on your profile, positioning, and next steps. Explore what’s included: https://thechichestersocial.com/linkedin-power-hour Book your session: https://cal.com/debbie-ford-the-chichester-social/super-sixty-for-nasgp-members 00:00 Intro 01:18 Why LinkedIn for GPs? 12:44 Always repost! 16:18 One post, one message 21:44 How often to post 33:13 LinkedIn for GPs
March 30, 202636 min
Dr Susanna Petche – The trauma-informed GP linking chronic disease to complex trauma and inflammation
In this episode, Dr Richard Fieldhouse is joined by Dr Susanna Petche to trace her diverse career path. From an innovative, arts-in-medicine GP VTS at the Whittington, through to her time as a locum GP within the Chambers model, and her later work in commissioning and medical education. The conversation pivots to her personal experience with a diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). Dr Petche now uses this lived experience and a master's in psychological trauma to teach other clinicians how common presentations like chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and resistant anxiety are often rooted in unacknowledged trauma. She offers practical, actionable advice on how GPs can become trauma-informed and empower their patients through lifestyle medicine to break the cycle of chronic stress and inflammation. Common Threads TEDx: " Is trauma costing you your future? " Website: www.trauma-sense.com
March 19, 202640 min
Dr Keith Grimes – AI in general practice: what sessional GPs need to know about safety and scribes
GP locums are on the front line of AI adoption, but inconsistent practice-level governance creates significant risk. In this conversation, Helen Holmes-Fogg (NASGP Chief Exec), digital health specialist Dr Keith Grimes, and practising locum Dr Claire Sieber dive into the practical reality of using AI scribes (AVT) when moving between multiple practices. They discuss the critical need for patient consent, the ambiguity around MDO indemnity, and how a surprising 70% of deployed digital health technology may not be fully compliant with clinical safety standards. This is essential listening for any sessional GP looking to benefit from AI while protecting their registration, their patients, and their portfolio career. Youtube edition
March 6, 202656 min
Identifying your risk: how to recognise the burnout cliff and build a wellbeing plan
As a GP, you are at high risk of burnout, which the World Health Organisation defines as a syndrome from chronic, unmanaged workplace stress—it is not a personal failure. In this essential webinar, Dr Helen Garr, Medical Director at NHS Practitioner Health, shares practical, evidence-based tools to recognise the signs before you reach the 'burnout cliff' and find support within your practice and the wider sessional workforce community. YouTube of webinar https://youtu.be/Xg8aO2JjJLs What you will learn Why burnout is a system problem, not a character flaw in the sessional GP workforce. How to use energy accounting (the 'spoon theory') to protect your capacity and maintain continuity. The crucial steps to build psychological safety within your team by 'reaching in' to colleagues. The common signs you are near the 'burnout cliff' and what 'bad medicine' coping strategies look like. How to create a personal wellbeing plan (WRAP plan) and identify your vital support network (Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes crew). Topic order Burnout: It's a systemic issue, not a flaw (Boiling frog analogy). The burnout cliff: recognising common signs and compassion fatigue. The temperature continuum: checking in on your psychological well-being. Developing a Wellbeing/Resilience Action Plan (WRAP plan). Psychological safety and secondary stressors (the psychological backpack). Building your support network (Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes crew). Energy accounting: the 'spoon theory'. NHS Practitioner Health: confidential mental health and addiction treatment. Resources NHS Practitioner Health: https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/ Dr Richard Duggins' book: Burnout Free Working https://uk.jkp.com/products/burnoutfree-working Wellbeing & Coping Website: wellbeingandcoping.net Mind's Wellbeing at Work Plan: https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/my-mental-health-at-work/wellness-action-plans/ Balint Groups (for peer support): https://balintsociety.org.uk/balint-groups-and-balint-method
February 23, 202624 min
Dr Kevin Fernando - Leveraging locum flexibility to build a global medical education portfolio
We speak to Dr Kevin Fernando about his deliberate and successful transition from a GP partnership to a thriving, multi-faceted portfolio career. Kevin explains how a desire for better work-life balance initially led him to general practice, and how his passion for medical education became the key to unlocking a global role with Medscape. He shares practical advice on how to start teaching, the importance of surrounding yourself with mentors, and how part-time sessional work provides the necessary foundation for flexibility. We also discuss his new private practice (focused on CVRM), the luxury of time it affords for holistic care, and his thoughts on the evolving role of AI as an invaluable tool for clinicians.
February 13, 202654 min
Making Tax Digital for sessional GPs
Luke Wheal, a specialist medical accountant from Azets, breaks down the monumental shift to making tax digital for income tax (MTD) and what it means for UK sessional GPs and any GP with qualifying rental income. He clarifies the confusion around staggered turnover thresholds (starting at £50,000 for April 2026) and stresses that while reporting is going quarterly, the existing self-assessment payment dates remain the same. This episode is a practical, demystifying guide to navigating the future of tax for the flexible sessional workforce and avoiding the common traps of the new digital record-keeping system. View on YouTube (includes slides) #MakingTaxDigital, #MTD, #GPlocum, #SessionalGP, #NHS
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