Use of locums in the Regular GP Scheme 2016-22

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• General Practice

Background:

• The Regular General Practitioner (GP) Scheme mandates the use of locum GPs during absences or when a patient list lacks a permanent GP.
• The study investigates the prevalence and evolution of locum contracts within this scheme from 2016 to 2022.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the trends in locum GP contract registration in Norway.
• To examine the distribution and duration of locum contracts based on municipal centrality.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive registry study analyzing 21,418 locum contracts from January 2016 to December 2022.
• Municipalities were categorized into six centrality classes (1-2 central, 3-4 less central, 5-6 least central).
• Analysis included frequency tables, contingency tables, and rates to assess locum contract prevalence and duration.

Main Results:

• A 446% increase in registered locum contracts was observed nationally (916 to 5003).
• The largest increase occurred in the least central municipalities (groups 5-6).
• Average locum contract durations varied significantly by centrality, being shortest in the least central areas (67 days).

Conclusions:

• The GP Registry offers valuable nationwide data on locum GP utilization.
• The substantial increase in locum GP use since 2016 presents a potential challenge to equitable healthcare access.
• Further research is recommended to explore the drivers and implications of this trend.