The GP Reimbursement Scheme started in April 2026 to help practices increase GP capacity. From 1 October 2026 it also covers the increased participation of locums: a practice that gives a locum GP more regular sessions can claim back part of the cost.
This guide summarises the rules as written in the Statement of Financial Entitlements (SFE), the directions that set GMS payments in England. At the time of writing we could not find separate NHS England guidance on the locum element, so agree anything unclear with your commissioner before relying on a claim.
What changed on 1 October 2026
The SFE amendment that came into force on 1 October 2026 adds the increased participation of locums to the scheme, alongside new salaried GPs and extra sessions for existing salaried GPs. The scheme as written covers the financial year ending 31 March 2027 and applies in England.
Sources: SFE (Amendment) (No. 4) Directions 2026: locums added from 1 October 2026
Which increases qualify
The conditions for a locum are the same as for extra salaried GP sessions:
- Before the claim period, the locum’s annualised sessions were fewer than nine a week.
- Your practice has increased them, up to a maximum of nine sessions a week.
- You are not already claiming another reimbursement for the same costs.
- The extra sessions are not there to cover an absent GP performer, which is claimed separately.
- You make the required declaration.
- Practices with more than 3,500 patients per GP need NHS England approval to take part.
Sources: SFE (Amendment) (No. 4) Directions 2026: locums added from 1 October 2026
How much you can claim
For each extra hour, you can claim the lower of your actual cost per hour and £78.41 (£79.84 with London weighting). If you pay a locum more than that, the practice meets the difference.
All of a practice’s claims under the scheme, including any for salaried GPs, share one cap: £4.57 multiplied by the practice’s adjusted population at 1 January of the previous financial year. The table shows what the cap allows at the maximum hourly rate.
| Adjusted practice population | Annual cap | Hours at the maximum rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6,000 | £27,420 | About 350 |
| 10,000 | £45,700 | About 583 |
| 15,000 | £68,550 | About 874 |
Sources: SFE (Amendment) (No. 4) Directions 2026: locums added from 1 October 2026
- Shift postedGP session, 8:30am to 6pm
- Locum appliedChecks already complete
- Terms agreedRate, duties and cancellation in writing
- Booking confirmedBoth sides get the detailsToday
How to claim
Claims go through CQRS Local and must be submitted within three months of the end of the month they relate to. Payment is made in arrears at the end of the following calendar month. Tell NHS England about any change in circumstances that could affect eligibility.
Keep a clear record of the locum’s sessions before and after the increase, the invoices showing hours and cost, and your declaration. The directions do not say how a locum’s annualised sessions are counted, so agree the baseline with your commissioner before you plan the extra sessions.
Sources: SFE (Amendment) (No. 4) Directions 2026: locums added from 1 October 2026 · GOV.UK: GMS Statement of Financial Entitlements directions and amendments
Planning the extra sessions
The scheme rewards regular, additional sessions, so it suits a locum who already works with you and can take on a fixed weekly pattern. Write the extra sessions into a cover brief so the workload, support and handover are clear from the start.
Through FindALocum, your practice agrees the rate with the locum and pays them directly, so each invoice shows the clinician’s hourly cost on its own. Our booking fee is separate. Check with your commissioner before including any third-party fee in a claim.
Common questions
Can we claim for a locum covering a GP on leave?
Not under this scheme. Cover for a GP performer on parental or sickness leave is reimbursed under separate sections of the SFE.
Does this apply to PMS and APMS practices?
The SFE sets GMS payments. PMS and APMS practices often receive equivalent payments through their own contracts, so check with your commissioner.
Is there a deadline?
Each claim must be made within three months of the end of the month it relates to. The scheme as written covers the financial year ending 31 March 2027.
Official sources
Sources checked . Requirements can differ by country, employer and role; use the current guidance relevant to the work.
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