locum

But despite a growing and ageing population, the number of permanent GPs, excluding locums and trainees, is just over 1,000 lower now, at 27,193 full-time equivalents, than in 2015.

She has spent time in recent years working as a locum, allowing her to pick and choose her hours, because the pressures of the job became too much.

Mr Colbert is now working as a locum at various hospitals around the UK.

Unless the practice recruits at least one other GP partner, in May an alternative provider will step in - possibly the local health trust - which will supply GPs including locums.

She spends the rest of her time working from home in Cardiff as a researcher for Oxford University and occasionally working on other islands as a locum - a doctor used to temporarily fill shifts.