A GP Locum is a fully qualified GP that works in a hospital or doctor’s surgery in another GP’s absence.
If you're a hospital based or salaried GP Locum, you're classed as an Officer member of the NHS Pension Scheme.
If you’ve worked at a practice for 6 months, you can be classed as a Type 2 Practitioner for pension purposes. The practice must treat you as a sessional GP and you do not need to complete the GP Locum forms.
GP Locum forms
To join the NHS Pension Scheme you must complete GP Locum form A and B within 10 weeks of the work being completed.
For England, the GP Locum forms must be sent to Primary Care Support England (PCSE). This can be sent by post or submitted on PCSE online.
For Wales, they must be sent to your Local Health Board (LHB).
You'll be asked to include your Unique Payment Reference (UPR). This must match the UPR on the payment sent to PCSE or your LHB. Your UPR is made up of:
- your NHS Pension Scheme (SD) reference number which is 8 digits
- the 3 character identifier of the form you're submitting which is 'LOC'
- the first 3 letters of the month worked
- the year.
If you're wanting to retire, submit an AW8 form to PCSE or LHB.
You must only send your forms to one location.
Pension contributions
You must submit the employer and employee contributions.
If you're a freelance GP Locum or GP performing additional locum work, you can pay contributions on your gross pay. You can calculate the amount of pension contributions due on the GP Locum form B.
If you do not pension your GP Locum work, you must tell the practice. This is because you'll be paid a 14.3% employer contribution and 0.08% administration charge. If you receive this but choose not to pension the income, you must return this to the practice.
Absence from work
GP Locums are not entitled to maternity, paternity, or sick pay. You cannot pay into the NHS Pension Scheme whilst you’re absent from work.
Limited company
If you're a limited company, you cannot pay into the NHS Pension Scheme.