How this fits in

Prior research on the extent of GP locum use in general practice and the composition of the GP locum workforce is sparse. The availability of new data from general practice allows an opportunity to generate new knowledge and to add to the understanding of the current GP workforce composition. Results of the present study suggest that GP locum use has remained stable over time and comparisons of GP locums with other types of GPs show that locums are mostly younger male doctors, of whom a large proportion have qualified elsewhere other than the UK, and work in underperforming practices. Substantial regional variation in GP locum use across England indicate differencesin workforce planning, recruitment, and retention. This research provides a useful approach to measure the extent of locum use in primary care and can aid workforce planning by identifying areas of increased recruitment, areas with high GP turnover, and also the drivers behind variation in locum use in English primary care.