Clinical Director for Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and inspirational Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist to join Somerset NHS Foundation Trust as Clinical Director for Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

This full-time 10 PA leadership post offers the opportunity to shape the future of women's health services at both Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital.

As Clinical Director, you will provide strategic, professional and operational medical leadership across a broad portfolio including maternity, obstetrics, benign and acute gynaecology, specialist women's health services, diagnostics, workforce development and research.

Working closely with clinical, operational, nursing and midwifery colleagues, you will lead service transformation, quality improvement and workforce development to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care for women, babies and families across the county.

This is a rare opportunity to influence strategy, drive meaningful change and leave a lasting legacy within one of England's most integrated healthcare organisations. We are committed to appointing the right individual and will work collaboratively to develop a job plan that reflects your experience, strengths and aspirations whilst ensuring the leadership requirements of the service are met.

We would be delighted to discuss the role, introduce you to colleagues across both sites and share our ambitions for the future of Women's Services in Somerset.

Main duties of the job

As Clinical Director for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, you will:

• Provide visible clinical leadership across women's health services, fostering collaboration between Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital.
• Develop and deliver a clear county-wide strategy for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, aligned with Trust and system priorities.
• Lead on quality, safety and clinical governance, ensuring learning from incidents, reviews, audits and patient feedback drives sustained improvement.
• Support delivery of the Maternity and Neonatal Improvement Plan and provide strategic oversight of maternity, obstetric and gynaecology services.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to improve patient experience, access standards, elective recovery, cancer pathways and service performance.
• Share accountability for workforce, operational, quality and financial objectives across the service.
• Support recruitment, retention, succession planning and the development of future clinical leaders.
• Lead transformational projects and pathway redesign across acute, community and primary care services.
• Build strong relationships with patients, families, commissioners, education partners and regional networks to support the delivery of high-quality services.
• Promote a culture of inclusion, innovation, research, continuous improvement and compassionate leadership.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Details

• Date posted: 21 October 2026
• Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
• Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 184-OL-MED-FAM-6182
• Job locations: Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 4AT, United Kingdom, Musgrove Park Hospital, Musgrove Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 5DA, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

This is a county-wide role, with responsibility for shaping the future direction of services across two acute sites serving the population of Somerset. Working alongside an experienced multidisciplinary leadership team, you will be the senior leader for improvements in quality, safety, workforce, performance and patient experience while helping to create a shared vision for women's health across the county.

Significant investment is already underway, including the King's Building theatre complex at Musgrove Park Hospital, the development of a dedicated Early Pregnancy Assessment and Gynaecology Assessment Unit opening in 2027, and the ongoing redevelopment of Women's Services at Yeovil District Hospital. There are few opportunities to influence service strategy, workforce development, pathway redesign and future estate development at this scale at this time.

We are looking for a leader with the credibility to engage clinicians, the judgement to navigate complex challenges and the ambition to shape services for the future. This role would suit an established Clinical Director, Clinical Service Lead or an experienced consultant seeking a broader leadership opportunity.

We are keen to appoint the right individual rather than fit someone into a predefined role. The balance between leadership responsibilities and clinical practice will therefore be agreed with the successful candidate and can be tailored to reflect individual interests, expertise and career aspirations.

A competitive Clinical Director remuneration package, recruitment and retention support, relocation assistance and funded visits to Somerset are available for the successful candidate.

Informal enquiries

Dr James CoulstonAssociate Medical Director, Children, Young People and FamiliesJames.Coulston@somersetft.nhs.uk

Zillah MorrisDeputy Service Group Director, Children, Young People and FamiliesZillah.Morris@somersetft.nhs.uk

This is an opportunity to shape services, develop people and leave a lasting legacy for women's health across Somerset.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).