Taking a Locum Year as a Doctor: My Experience & Insights

as per harry
Mar 6
4 min read

So, I’m technically in my locum year—but not really. Instead of doing a bunch of hospital shifts, I’ve structured my year with a mix of research, private assisting, and a little bit of casual work. The idea of a locum year is super flexible, and there’s no single way to do it. Some people use it to travel, others to make bank with high-paying shifts, and some (like me) use it as a chance to explore different opportunities while keeping a steady income.

If you're a junior doctor thinking about taking a break from the traditional training pathway, here’s what my experience has been like so far and what you should consider.

Why Take a Locum Year?

For me, the biggest benefit of stepping away from full-time clinical rotations has been freedom. When you’re working a full-time hospital job, your schedule is busy. You’re waking up at 6 AM, doing ward rounds, seeing patients all day, and often not getting home until late. That makes it tough to fit in other things—whether that’s research, travel, side projects, or just having a life outside of medicine.

Taking a year off from structured training gives you time to:

✔️ Earn good money through locum shifts or private assisting.

✔️ Explore research or other interests.

✔️ Travel and experience different health systems.

For me, it’s been a mix of all of the above. I never took a gap year after school—I went straight from undergrad to postgrad, then straight into working as a doctor. Now, three years into my medical career, this is my first real chance to step back and reassess.

How I’m Structuring My Locum Year

So far, my income has come from two main sources:

Paid Research Work – I was lucky enough to land a paid research role, which isn’t always easy to come by but is a great option if you can find it.
Private Assisting – This involves working with surgeons in private hospitals, helping with procedures, holding cameras, doing some stitching, and just generally assisting in theatre.

I also have casual contracts with my old hospital, meaning if shifts pop up, I can take them without having to go through a locum agency. It’s a good backup plan in case I need extra work.

For those considering a locum year, the key takeaway here is: there are options. You don’t have to only do locum shifts; you can mix and match based on what suits you.

How Do Locum Shifts Work?

If you do want to go the traditional locum route, it’s pretty straightforward:

Sign up with a locum agency.
They advertise shifts via text, email, or their website.
You submit your paperwork (CV, credentials, references).
Once approved, you get offered shifts based on your experience and availability.

The pay rates can be insane compared to regular hospital salaries. For example, I got a text about seven consecutive night shifts paying $190 per hour as a surgical registrar. Compare that to the $50 per hour you might make as a salaried registrar, and you can see why locum work is appealing.

You can also take longer locum contracts—some are 3-6 months, which is great if you want to work in a new city or hospital but still have some stability.

Pros & Cons of a Locum Year

Pros

✅ Flexibility – Choose when and where you work.

✅ Better Pay – Rates can be 3-4x higher than standard hospital wages.

✅ Travel Opportunities – Work in different hospitals, states, or even countries.

✅ Work-Life Balance – More time for research, side projects, or just living your life.

Cons

❌ Lack of Long-Term Stability – You’re not locked into a contract, so income can be inconsistent.

❌ Less Networking – Since you’re not permanently based anywhere, you don’t build long-term relationships with senior doctors as easily.

❌ Admin Work – You have to sort out your own paperwork, taxes, and job applications.

That last point is something I didn’t expect to be so frustrating. Every hospital requires different onboarding documents, provider numbers, and accreditation forms. If you’re moving around a lot, the paperwork can be a headache.

Is Private Assisting Worth It?

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is private assisting. It’s a great way to:

Keep up surgical skills.
Work closely with senior doctors.
Get hands-on experience without the stress of ward duties.

In a public hospital, you’re constantly surrounded by interns, residents, registrars, medical students, and consultants. It’s a busy, teaching-focused environment. In private hospitals, it’s completely different—consultants run the show, and you’re often the only junior doctor in the room.

That means there’s less teaching, but on the flip side, you get a lot of responsibility and independence. The challenge is making sure you stay connected to the right people, so you’re not just a floating locum with no strong ties to a team.

Should You Take a Locum Year?

If you’re feeling burnt out, unsure about your career path, or just want to experience something different, a locum year can be an incredible opportunity. You can structure it however you like—full-time locum work, private assisting, research, travel, or even just taking a real break.

For me, this year has been about variety and balance. I still enjoy clinical work, but I also want time to focus on research and other projects. Having control over my schedule has been a real game-changer. Would I recommend it? 100%. Whether you’re one year or five years into your medical career, stepping back to reassess and gain different experiences can be incredibly valuable.

If you’re thinking about it, my advice is: plan ahead, explore your options, and make the year work for you.

Got any questions about locuming, private assisting, or research work? Drop them in the comments—I’m happy to share more insights! 🚀

watch me chat about this instead: