Four in five locum GPs in England unable to find work, BMA study finds

More than half of GP appointments are now conducted by non-GP practice staff as they are cheaper, leading to locums being unable to find work. Photograph: MBI/Alamy

More than four in five locum GPs in England are unable to find work with a third forced to leave the NHS because they cannot make ends meet, a survey has found.

A survey of 1,852 locums, conducted by the British Medical Association (BMA), found that 84% cannot find work despite patients across the country waiting weeks for GP appointments.