General practitioner non‐principals benefit from flexible working

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore non‐principals’ working patterns and attitudes to work.Design/methodology/approach – The article is based on data provided by a questionnaire survey.Findings – Gender division was apparent among the non‐principals. Males were more likely to work full‐time, because their spouses modified their working hours.Research limitations/implications – It was impossible to identify all non‐principals in Scotland or to compare responders and non‐responders, due to the lack of official data. Hence, the results might not be representative.Practical implications – More flexible posts would enable GPs to more easily combine paid work with family commitments. It is anticipated that the new GP contract should deliver this.Originality/value – This was the first time a study of all non‐principals in Scotland had been attempted. The findings provide a more comprehensive picture of GPs in Scotland and provide valuable information for policymakers.