Welcome to Hunter Gatherer Primary Care – specialist GP recruitment across the UK
We place GPs into GP practices, Primary Care Networks and out-of-hours services on both a locum and salaried basis. Whether you’re a surgery with a gap to fill next week or a GP looking for your next long-term role, we offer fast, personalised and genuinely expert support from a team that understands primary care inside out.
What is a GP?
General Practitioners are fully qualified doctors who provide comprehensive, ongoing medical care to patients of all ages within the community. As the first point of contact for the majority of NHS patients, GPs assess and manage the full breadth of clinical presentations – from acute illness and minor injuries to complex multi-morbidity and long-term condition management.
With GP numbers under sustained pressure and patient demand continuing to rise, the ability to access reliable, high-quality locum cover or make a permanent hire quickly has never been more important for practices and PCNs.
Why Practices Choose Hunter Gatherer for GP Recruitment:
Primary care is our specialism We don’t spread ourselves across every healthcare sector. Primary care is what we do, and GP recruitment sits at the heart of it. Our consultants understand practice systems, session structures, QOF requirements and what makes a GP a good fit for a particular surgery – not just on paper.
GMC-verified and fully compliant Every GP we place is verified for GMC registration (including GP Register status), DBS, medical indemnity, performers list inclusion and revalidation status before we put their name forward. No shortcuts, no surprises.
Locum and salaried placements Need urgent cover for tomorrow? We can help. Looking to grow your permanent salaried team? We can help with that too. We support both, with the same standard of compliance and candidate quality.
Fast turnaround We know a rota gap doesn’t wait. When you contact us, we aim to respond the same day with vetted, available GPs that match your requirements.
Need support attracting top GP talent?
What GPs Do in Primary Care:
GPs in NHS practice and out-of-hours settings manage a wide clinical scope, including:
- Consultation and assessment of undifferentiated and complex presentations
- Diagnosis and management of acute illness and long-term conditions
- Prescribing and medicines management
- Referral to secondary care and specialist services
- Chronic disease management – diabetes, hypertension, respiratory, cardiovascular, mental health
- Home visits and care home rounds
- Women’s health, contraception and sexual health
- Minor procedures – coil fitting, joint injections, minor surgery
- Out-of-hours urgent and emergency triage
- Clinical leadership and supervision within MDT settings
GP Specialisations and Interests:
Many GPs develop particular clinical interests alongside their generalist work. We can match practices with GPs who have experience in specific areas, including:
- Urgent & Emergency Care – GP-led urgent treatment centres, OOH and walk-in services
- Long-Term Condition Management – diabetes, COPD, asthma, cardiovascular disease
- Women’s Health – contraception, cervical screening, menopause, obstetrics
- Mental Health – depression, anxiety, complex mental health, IAPT liaison
- Paediatrics – child health surveillance, complex paediatric presentations
- Elderly & Frailty – care home rounds, frailty MDT, end-of-life care
- Minor Surgery – skin lesion removal, joint injections, coil fitting
- GP with Extended Roles (GPwERs) – dermatology, MSK, cardiology and more
Qualifications and Registration:
Every GP we place holds:
- Full GMC registration with a Licence to Practise
- Inclusion on the GP Register (CCT or equivalent)
- Inclusion on the NHS England Performers List (or equivalent in Scotland, Wales, NI)
- Valid medical indemnity insurance (MDU, MPS or equivalent)
- Current DBS and up-to-date mandatory training
- Active revalidation connection and annual appraisal in place
For locum GPs, we also confirm IR35 status and payment arrangements upfront, so there are no administrative headaches for the practice.
Locum GP Opportunities:
Locum GP work in primary care offers genuine flexibility alongside some of the most competitive rates in the medical profession. Whether you want to supplement a salaried role, build a full portfolio locum career, or cover a specific region, we’ll find sessions and block bookings that suit your availability and clinical interests.
We work with GP practices, PCNs, out-of-hours providers and urgent care centres across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond.
GP Pay Rates & Salaries (2025/26):
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Locum GPs£85 – £110 per hour for standard in-hours sessions | £600 – £850 per day for full-day bookings (typical range across England). Rates vary by region, session type, workload and urgency. Evening, weekend, bank holiday and out-of-hours sessions typically attract a premium above these figures.
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Salaried GPs£76,038 – £114,743 per year (from 1 April 2026, following the 3.5% DDRB uplift). Salaried GP pay follows the national model contract range, uplifted annually by the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration Body (DDRB). Many salaried roles offer additional benefits including NHS pension, study leave, indemnity support and opportunities for extended roles or clinical leadership.
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GP PartnersGP partners operate as independent contractors rather than employees. Earnings vary significantly based on practice list size, contract type, local funding and overhead costs. Partners generally earn above the salaried scale but carry greater financial and managerial responsibility.
Our consultants can advise on current going rates in your specific area and setting.
As a locum GP, you are responsible for your own tax, National Insurance, pension arrangements and medical indemnity. Our team can advise on typical net rates and help you understand your IR35 position.
Career Pathways in General Practice:
- Newly qualified GPs (NQGPs) Following completion of GP training (CCT), many newly qualified GPs begin with a mix of locum sessions and salaried roles to build experience across different settings before committing to a long-term position.
- Salaried GPs Salaried posts offer stability, NHS pension access and a defined workload, typically with less management responsibility than partnership. A growing number of GPs prefer this model throughout their career.
- GP Partners Partnership offers greater autonomy, income potential and influence over how a practice is run – alongside greater financial risk and managerial commitment.
- Portfolio GPs Many GPs combine locum sessions with extended roles (GPwER), leadership responsibilities, medical education, research or private practice to build a varied portfolio career.
Whatever stage you’re at, we can help you find roles that fit where you are and where you want to go.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do locum GPs need to be on the NHS Performers List? Yes. To work in NHS general practice in England, GPs must be included on the NHS England Performers List, in addition to holding full GMC registration and GP Register status. The equivalent applies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We verify this for every GP we place.
Can you provide same-day or short-notice GP cover? Yes. Once a GP is registered and compliant with us, we can respond to urgent requests quickly. Contact us directly for same-day or short-notice requirements and we’ll do everything we can to help.
Do you place newly qualified GPs as well as experienced ones? Yes. We work with GPs at every stage – from NQGPs taking their first locum sessions to experienced GPs with specialist interests looking for long-term salaried roles or partnership opportunities.
How do you handle IR35 for locum GPs? Locum GP engagements can fall inside or outside IR35 depending on the nature of the arrangement. We discuss this with every GP and practice upfront to ensure the engagement is structured correctly and transparently.
Do you place GPs in out-of-hours and urgent care settings? Yes. We work with OOH providers, urgent treatment centres and walk-in services as well as GP surgeries and PCNs. If you have a specific setting or shift requirement, get in touch.
What areas do you cover? We place GPs across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Newcastle, Sheffield and beyond.
Your future starts here!
Discover our latest opportunities or register with us today to unlock your potential!
Testimonials:
Latest Jobs
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Locum GP – Southend – 12 months contract
Are you a Qualified GP looking for a rewarding locum role in Southend? We have a long term contract available. • Job Title: Locum GP• […]View Locum GP – Southend – 12 months contract job