| アブストラクト | BACKGROUND: Locum doctors are vital for maintaining healthcare provision, especially in primary care. However, their levels of use, role and impact remain relatively understudied. We use electronic health records to explore locum use more comprehensively in the UK over time and across geographies. METHODS: Using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD GOLD) we conducted a retrospective cohort study spanning April 2010 to March 2022, analysing consultations across UK general practices. Consultation types were categorised by GP type (locum vs. permanent). Multi-level mixed effects logistic regressions modelled the association between locum consultations and patient and practice characteristics. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2022, 914 UK general practices contributed to our dataset. UK locums provided more care than previously estimated, with a 2019 [pre-pandemic] mean of 14.9% and median of 7.5% of all consultations, indicating substantial variation. Over time, the use of locums in the UK remained relatively stable but this masks different trends within the UK. We find use in England increasing, in Scotland and Northern Ireland decreasing and in Wales flat. Regression analysis finds that variation in locum use is largely unexplained by patient and practice characteristics. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates higher use of locums across the UK than available NHS statistics would suggest. We attribute these differences to alternative ways of measuring GP activity (consultations vs hours worked). Regional and country differences highlight diverse workforce challenges where local solutions may be needed. Our findings contribute to understanding NHS workforce dynamics and mayhelp inform strategies for primary care service delivery. |
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| ジャーナル名 | The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners |
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| Pubmed追加日 | 2025/11/25 |
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| 投稿者 | Allen, Thomas; Grigoroglou, Christos; Walshe, Kieran; Stringer, Gemma; Ferguson, Jane; Kontopantelis, Evangelos; Stewart, Stuart; Morris, Charlotte; Ashcroft, Darren |
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| 組織名 | University of Manchester, Manchester Centre for Health Economics, Manchester,;United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;thomas.allen@manchester.ac.uk.;University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and;Northern Ireland.;Alliance Manchester Business School, Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain;and Northern Ireland.;The University of Manchester Alliance Manchester Business School, Manchester,;United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.;University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and;University of Manchester, Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences,;Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.;Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, United Kingdom of Great;Britain and Northern Ireland.;The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Primary;Care, Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. |
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| Pubmed リンク | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41285515/ |
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