Choosing the right healthcare recruitment agency for your GP practice or Primary Care Network (PCN) is a critical decision that impacts patient care, team efficiency, and overall operational success. The right partner can help you save time, streamline hiring, and ensure high-quality clinicians, while the wrong agency can lead to compliance risks, staff shortages, and wasted resources.
If you’re looking for a trusted GP recruitment agency, here are 5 major red flags to watch out for before making your choice:
1. Lack of Primary Care Expertise 🚩
Not all agencies specialise in primary care recruitment. If an agency doesn’t have deep knowledge of Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs), Practice Nurses (PNs), Pharmacists, General Practitioners (GPs), Paramedics, or First Contact Practitioners (FCPs), they may struggle to provide candidates who meet the specific demands of your practice. Look for agencies with a proven track record in healthcare recruitment.
2. Unclear Compliance & Vetting Processes 🚩
Every clinician placed in your practice must be fully vetted, compliant, and meet NHS and CQC standards. If an agency can’t clearly explain its compliance procedures or fails to provide thorough background checks, it puts your practice at risk. Ask for details about DBS checks, professional registration, and right-to-work verification before committing.
3. Poor Communication & Slow Response Times 🚩
Healthcare recruitment is often time-sensitive, especially when urgent locum cover is needed. If an agency is unresponsive, slow to act, or difficult to reach, it can cause serious staffing issues. A reliable recruitment partner should be available, proactive, and provide regular updates on placements and candidate availability.
4. Hidden Fees or Unclear Pricing 🚩
Transparency is essential when choosing a medical recruitment agency. If an agency has vague contract terms, unclear pricing structures, or unexpected fees, you could end up paying more than planned. Choose a firm that provides clear, upfront costs and flexible solutions that fit your budget.
5. One-Size-Fits-All Approach 🚩
Every GP practice and PCN has unique staffing requirements. If an agency takes a generic approach, sending over candidates without first understanding your team dynamics, patient demographics, or workflow, it’s a major red flag. A specialist healthcare recruiter should tailor their approach to match your exact needs.
Why Choose Vela? Your Trusted Primary Care Recruitment Partner
At Vela Medical Group, we specialise in primary care staffing solutions that match GP practices and PCNs with the best healthcare professionals. Here’s why healthcare providers trust us:
✔ Industry expertise in primary care recruitment ✔ Strict compliance and vetting standards ✔ Fast and responsive candidate placements ✔ Transparent pricing with no hidden fees ✔ Tailored recruitment solutions for locum and permanent roles
If you’re looking for a trusted recruitment agency for GPs, ANPs, Pharmacists, and more, we’re here to help.
📩 Let’s talk about your staffing needs today.
