Direct Locum Work: How to Skip Agencies and Keep More of Your Pay

Working as a locum can offer great flexibility and strong earning potential, but many healthcare professionals find that a large portion of their pay disappears before it ever reaches their bank account.

Agency fees, umbrella company deductions, and hidden charges can take a serious bite out of your hard-earned income. If you are looking for a better way, there is good news.

Direct locum work allows you to find shifts yourself, work flexibly and keep more of your pay without relying on traditional agencies. Here is how you can make it happen.

Why Traditional Agencies Take a Cut

Agencies provide a service by connecting healthcare professionals to NHS Trusts. But their involvement comes at a cost.

Agency Fees

Trusts are charged high agency fees to access staff at short notice. This fee is often factored into the overall pay structure, meaning you see less money even if the advertised hourly rate looks good.

Umbrella Company Deductions

Many agency locums are paid through umbrella companies. These companies deduct administrative fees, tax, and sometimes even extra insurance costs, leaving you with less than you expected.

Lack of Transparency

When several parties are involved between you and the Trust, it becomes harder to know exactly how much you are being paid, what is being deducted and why.

By cutting out agencies, you can remove many of these costs and earn what you truly deserve for your work.

How Direct Locum Work Is Different

Direct locum work means finding and booking shifts yourself without going through a traditional recruitment agency.

You either register with:

• NHS Trust staff banks individually

or

• A collaborative platform like Flexzo Ai, which connects you to multiple Trusts through one simple process

Instead of going through multiple layers, you work directly with NHS organisations. This direct connection offers greater transparency, better pay retention and much more control over your career.

Advantages of Working Locum Shifts Directly

Keep More of Your Money

Without agency margins and umbrella company deductions, you are paid NHS rates directly. Enhancements for unsocial hours, weekends, and public holidays apply fully to your earnings.

Transparent Pay Structures

You know exactly what you will be paid for every shift, with no surprises or hidden deductions.

Greater Work-Life Balance

You choose your shifts based on your availability, your preferred locations and your specialist skills. You are not pressured into unsuitable shifts.

Stronger Relationships with Trusts

Working directly with Trusts helps you build better professional relationships, understand local systems, and feel like a valued member of the team.

Simplified Compliance

Platforms like Flexzo Ai manage your compliance checks in one place, saving you from repeatedly providing the same documents to different agencies.

How to Start Booking Locum Shifts Directly

1. Complete Your Compliance Documentation

You will need:

• Up-to-date DBS certificate
• Proof of right to work in the UK
• Occupational health clearance
• Current professional registration (NMC, GMC, HCPC etc.)
• Up-to-date training certificates

Flexzo Ai streamlines this process, allowing you to upload once and automatically manage renewals.

2. Choose a Collaborative Platform

While you could register separately with each NHS Trust bank, this can be time-consuming. Collaborative staff bank platforms like Flexzo Ai give you access to multiple Trusts from a single profile.

3. Set Your Work Preferences

Once you are registered, you can set your availability, preferred locations, shift types and specialties.

Flexzo Ai uses smart matching technology to suggest shifts that fit your skills and preferences, saving you hours of searching.

4. Book Shifts and Start Earning

You browse available shifts, book what you want and work on your own terms. Payment is made directly from the NHS Trusts at agreed rates.

No chasing agencies, no hidden deductions and no unnecessary paperwork.

What About Pay Rates for Direct Locum Work?

When you work direct, your pay is based on NHS rates, including enhancements. Typical earnings might include:

• Band 5 Staff Nurse: £15 to £22 per hour basic, plus 30 percent to 60 percent enhancements
• A&E Nurses: £28 to £45 per hour depending on shift timing
• Critical Care Nurses: £30 to £50 per hour for ICU or HDU work
• Allied Health Professionals: £30 to £60 per hour depending on specialty
• Locum GPs: £70 to £100+ per hour
• Consultant Doctors: £80 to £120+ per hour

When you book directly, you keep the full value of these rates without giving away a portion to agencies or umbrella companies.

Common Questions About Direct Locum Work

Final Thoughts

Direct locum work is not only possible, it is a better way forward for many healthcare professionals.

By skipping agencies and booking shifts yourself, you gain better financial rewards, greater work-life balance and a stronger connection to the Trusts you work for.

Flexzo Ai makes it simple to find NHS shifts directly, book work easily and keep more of your hard-earned pay. You deserve to be properly rewarded for your skills and dedication, without unnecessary middlemen taking a share.