Locum work is particularly important in rural and remote areas, and areas affected by staff shortages. In the past, Senior Doctors would often choose locum employment as a way of ‘easing into retirement’. However, nowadays, doctors of all ages and stages of their career are choosing to work in locum employment and find it provides many benefits including:

• flexibility and work-life balance

• financial incentives

• variety and travel

• skill development and specialisation

• exposure to different healthcare settings

Registrars are Doctors undertaking specialty training posts (at or above ST3 or IMY3 level), or non-training posts which require equivalent experience (3+ post foundation years). Similar titles include Senior Clinical Fellow, Trust Grade ST3, or Specialty Trainee/Registrar. Doctors at this level have increased responsibility in providing medical care, attending and assessing acutely ill patients, and supporting and training Junior Doctors and staff. Registrars continue to develop advanced clinical and professional practice and autonomy. Registrar level Doctors enrolled in specialty training programs, including GP and Internal Medicine Training, will be working towards achieving a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) and to join either the GMC GP register as a GP, or the GMC Specialist Register as a Consultant. Some medical specialties take up to 8 years of postgraduate work experience and study. Other Registrar level doctors will work in non-training posts, which can lead to SAS (Staff grade/ Associate Specialist/Specialty Doctor) positions and alternative pathways to specialist registration in the future. Registrars can take on locum roles in a variety of settings and medical specialisations. Locum employment can help registrars further develop their skills, portfolio of work experience, and professional opportunities, while giving them greater control and work/life balance.