Locum General Practitioner (GP) – Out-of-Hours

Location: Newham (various OOH bases, urgent care centres, and community hubs)

Hours: Out-of-Hours (evenings, nights, weekends, bank holidays)

Job Summary

The Locum GP will provide high-quality, patient-centred clinical care within the Newham Out-of-Hours (OOH) primary care service. Working independently, the GP will assess, treat, and manage patients presenting with urgent or unplanned healthcare needs in a fast-paced primary care environment outside of standard practice hours.

This role mirrors the clinical responsibilities of a GP working in daytime general practice but is specifically adapted for the acute, episodic, and undifferentiated case mix typical of OOH services.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Care

• Provide safe and effective clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for patients presenting with acute, urgent, or complex conditions during OOH periods.
• Manage a wide spectrum of presentations, including minor illness, acute exacerbations of long-term conditions, minor injuries, infections, paediatrics, and urgent on-the-day needs.
• Deliver telephone triage and clinical validation where required.
• Conduct face-to-face consultations within OOH bases and undertake home visits or mobile visits depending on service requirements.
• Prescribe safely and appropriately in line with GMC, NICE, and local prescribing guidelines.
• Order and interpret appropriate investigations, or arrange follow-up with in-hours GP services or secondary care where clinically indicated.
• Escalate to urgent or emergency services when appropriate to ensure patient safety.

Key Requirements

Qualifications & Registration

• Fully qualified GP with current GMC registration and licence to practise.
• Evidence of appropriate professional indemnity for OOH/urgent care work.
• Enhanced DBS check (or willingness to undergo one).
• ALS or equivalent emergency/urgent care training (desirable).

Experience

• Experience working in GP surgeries, urgent care, OOH services, or emergency settings.
• Confident managing undifferentiated presentations in adults and children.
• Competent working independently with decision-making responsibility, especially during OOH shifts where on-site support may be limited.
• Familiarity with NHS clinical systems (Adastra/EMIS) beneficial but not essential.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong diagnostic reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to prioritise workload during high-demand periods.
• Clinical confidence working with urgent presentations and safeguarding concerns.
• Calm and professional approach, particularly during night-time and emergency situations.
• Commitment to patient safety, clinical quality, and continuous improvement.

What We Offer

• Highly competitive locum rates + enhanced OOH pay.
• Flexible, regular, or ad-hoc shifts to suit your schedule.
• Supportive clinical leadership and modern clinical environments.
• Streamlined onboarding and access to ongoing professional updates.
• Opportunities to work across multiple OOH bases within Newham.