General Practitioners (GPs) are at the heart of the UK’s primary care system, and their work extends far beyond the traditional surgery setting. This guide answers common questions about the various General Practitioner roles available across the NHS and in private healthcare.
Whether you’re a GP fresh out of training or have years of experience under your belt, there are many ways to progress your career.
But with so many possible routes, it can be challenging to choose the right one for your circumstances and goals. Being a traditional GP is a popular choice, but there are other career paths offering additional flexibility and variety.
Here, we explore the main roles available to you as a GP, focusing on locums, salaried GPs, and portfolio GPs.
Salaried GP
What is a salaried GP?
Becoming a salaried GP could be right for you if you want to be employed by a practice. It offers various benefits, including a regular salary, pension contributions, and entitlement to annual, sick and maternity/paternity pay. Working as a salaried GP comes with fewer administrative burdens, and is also more compatible with family life.
Becoming a salaried GP could be right for you if you want to be employed by a practice. It offers various benefits, including a regular salary, pension contributions, and entitlement to annual, sick and maternity/paternity pay. Working as a salaried GP comes with fewer administrative burdens, and is also more compatible with family life. And since it’s paid through PAYE, it is less complicated than being self-employed (e.g. as a locum).
Working in a practice setting also offers a variety of career progression pathways.
Key duties include conducting face-to-face, telephone, and online consultations, diagnosing and managing a range of health conditions, and referring patients to secondary care (e.g., hospitals and specialists).
You may also be required to carry out home visits, and review and action test results, letters, and prescriptions. The role may also involve taking part in clinical meetings, audits, and peer reviews, and supervising or mentoring junior doctors (if agreed).
Salaried GP working hours
Salaried GPs in the UK typically work between 6 to 8 sessions per week, with 10 sessions considered full-time. Each session lasts around 4 hours and 10 minutes, usually split into morning and afternoon clinics. Some GPs also choose to take on out-of-hours shifts for additional income.
Where do general practitioners work?
General Practitioners work in GP surgeries, health centres, walk-in or urgent care centres, out-of-hours services, care homes, patients’ homes, and specialist clinics or Primary Care Networks (PCNs).
Locum GP
What is a locum GP?
Working as a locum GP involves temporary, contract-based work. It is an attractive option for those who haven’t yet settled on a career path.
Locum GPs enjoy higher hourly rates, control over their schedule, and exposure to different practice environments. Learn more about the benefits of being a locum.
It’s a great way to try out different roles, and experience living and working in different locations. Positions might be based in urban or rural areas, or split-site, where roles are performed in different locations (e.g. across several hospitals or clinics).
As a locum, you might carry out face-to-face consultations, telephone consultations, sign prescriptions, deal with results, do home visits, or be on-call.
Portfolio GPs
What is a GP portfolio career?
Taking the portfolio GP route means you’ll combine multiple roles, which can offer more variety and reduce the chances of career burnout. Portfolio elements might include being a GP partner, working out-of-hours (OOH), specialist interest roles, medical education positions, and working for commissioning organisations (ICSs/CCGs).
By working across different roles and settings, portfolio GPs are likely to enjoy more variety and intellectual stimulation. This approach allows them to develop a broad range of skills, from clinical practice to teaching, research, or leadership. Earning potential may also be increased by combining multiple income streams.
However, being a portfolio GP comes with challenges. Managing several commitments can be complex, requiring strong organisational skills to balance clinical duties with administrative tasks. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can also be difficult when juggling varied responsibilities, so careful planning and clear boundaries are essential to avoid burnout.
Where do general practitioners work?
Many GPs work in traditional GP surgeries, which may be run by a single doctor (single-handed) or a group of partners. These practices serve as the first point of contact for patients and offer continuity of care within local communities.
Some GPs also take on shifts in out-of-hours (OOHs) services, providing urgent care during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays when regular surgeries are closed. Others work in walk-in centres or urgent care centres, treating patients with minor illnesses or injuries who need quick access to medical advice.
Outside of standard community settings, GPs may practise in prisons and secure environments. Others choose to work in hospices or palliative care settings.
With the growth of technology, digital and online GP services have become increasingly popular, allowing doctors to consult with patients remotely via phone or video.
GPs may also take on roles within commissioning organisations, such as Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), successors to Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) – thereby helping shape local healthcare services.
GPs may also pursue careers in academic or research roles.
Start your career as a GP today
A career in general practice offers a wide variety of opportunities, allowing doctors to shape their roles to suit their interests, lifestyle, and values. From traditional surgery-based work to roles in urgent care, digital health, education, research, or healthcare leadership, general practice is one of the most flexible and diverse medical careers available.
There is no single, fixed path to follow – every GP’s journey is different. Some choose to become partners and help run a practice, while others prefer the stability of salaried roles or the variety of locum work. Many GPs combine clinical care with teaching, research, or policy roles, creating a fulfilling and dynamic career that evolves over time.
When planning your route into general practice, it’s important to reflect on your personal goals, strengths, and interests. Whether you value continuity of care, work-life balance, or the chance to influence how healthcare is delivered, general practice can offer a role that suits. It’s a career that not only meets the needs of patients, but also supports a wide range of professional ambitions.
Explore our latest GP vacancies live across the UK. Looking for something more flexible? We have great opportunities available with the London Ambulance Service offering competitive pay rates and flexible working arrangements.