The United Kingdom’s healthcare sector continues to face staffing challenges, with numerous doctor positions currently available across the National Health Service (NHS) and independent hospitals. Opportunities range from permanent consultant roles to fixed-term and locum positions, reflecting an ongoing demand for medical professionals.
According to listings on , NHS Jobs features several openings. A Specialty Doctor position is advertised at CHEC in Leicester, with a closing date of . South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is also recruiting a Specialty Doctor, with applications accepted until . Leeds Teaching Hospitals is seeking a Trust Doctor on a fixed-term contract, with a salary of £73,992 per year and a closing date of .
Beyond NHS positions, private healthcare providers are also actively recruiting. Cygnet Health Care has advertised Specialty Doctor roles in both Mold and Oldham, offering salaries of £85,000 and £84,000 respectively. Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialty Doctor with a salary range of £61,542 to £99,216 per year, and West London NHS Trust has a fixed-term Specialty Doctor position available, also with a salary range of £61,542 to £99,216. North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting for a permanent Specialty Doctor role, while Shawbury Medical Practice seeks a part-time Salaried Doctor.
The demand for doctors isn’t limited to specific specialties. Positions advertised include Consultant Old Age Psychiatry in Liverpool, with hourly rates between £90 and £100; ST3 Adult Psychiatry in North West England, offering £60-£70 per hour; and Consultant Adult Psychiatry in Glasgow, at £100-£110 per hour. More specialized roles, such as Locum Consultant Haematologist in West Scotland and Locum Consultant in Stroke Medicine in Maidstone, Kent, are also available, with hourly rates ranging from £100 to £125.
Medacs Healthcare, a leading healthcare staffing supplier, reports a consistent need for experienced doctors across the UK and internationally. The company states it has been assisting doctors with career opportunities for over 30 years, catering to both mid-career professionals and seasoned consultants. They currently list openings for Consultant General Medicine in Ipswich, Suffolk, and Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Colchester, Essex, both offering hourly rates of £80-£90. A Locum Consultant Rheumatologist position is available in North Manchester, with an hourly rate of £100-£120.
The breadth of available positions suggests a multifaceted need within the UK healthcare system. While some roles are focused on filling gaps in specific specialties, others appear to be addressing broader workforce shortages. The presence of both permanent and temporary (locum) positions indicates a desire for both long-term stability and flexible staffing solutions.
Indeed.co.uk highlights the benefits of working within a multidisciplinary team and emphasizes the availability of continuous development training and a supportive, doctor-led clinical setting. This suggests that employers are increasingly focused on creating attractive work environments to retain and attract medical professionals.
LinkedIn data, as of , shows over 7,000 doctor jobs available in the United Kingdom, including positions like Trust Doctor in Paediatric Emergency Medicine at Barts Health NHS Trust, Junior Clinical Fellow in Anaesthetics at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, and Trust Resident Doctor in General Surgery at NHS Watford. Remote medical doctor positions are also being advertised, indicating a growing trend towards telehealth and remote healthcare services.
The ongoing recruitment drive reflects broader challenges facing healthcare systems globally, including an aging population, increasing demand for services, and workforce burnout. The UK, like many other nations, is grappling with the need to attract and retain qualified medical professionals to ensure continued access to quality healthcare. The variety of positions available, coupled with the emphasis on supportive work environments, suggests a concerted effort to address these challenges.
The availability of roles across different regions of the UK – from Liverpool and Glasgow in the North to Kent and Ipswich in the South – indicates a nationwide need for medical staff. This geographically dispersed demand suggests that the staffing shortages are not concentrated in specific areas, but rather represent a systemic issue affecting the entire healthcare system.
Testimonials from doctors working with Medacs Healthcare suggest that flexibility and exposure to new specialties are key benefits of locum positions. One doctor stated that working with Medacs was a “game-changer,” providing opportunities for professional development and a more adaptable work-life balance. This highlights the appeal of temporary positions for doctors seeking greater control over their careers.
