Consultant Plastic Surgeon with special interest in Hand Surgery

Job overview

This new, full-time job represents an exciting opportunity to work in a busy, dynamic Plastic Surgery Department within a University Hospital and Major Trauma Centre. The Hand Unit is a specialist centre that manages elective and emergency hand and wrist pathology, receiving referrals from primary and secondary care locally and regionally.

Main duties of the job

The appointee is expected to be competent to offer our patients all aspects of elective and trauma hand surgery as well as be versatile in all aspects of plastic surgery trauma requiring input during on call. The postholder must be proficient in complex soft tissue reconstructive techniques, including microsurgery. As a Level 1 Trauma Centre, St George’s Hospital receives large number of patients with significant upper limb injuries so expertise in peripheral nerve surgery, tissue revascularisation and hand/digit replantation are essential.

The appointee will contribute to busy and diverse plastic surgery service and support all aspects of plastic surgery on call commitments. The new appointee will work closely with colleagues from the Orthopaedics, Hand Therapy and Radiology departments and be part of a truly multidisciplinary hand and wrist surgery team. The post attracts a 1:12 on-call commitment alongside a 1:12 Trauma Consultant of the week rota. Part of this job (up to 2 PAs) will incorporate clinical duties at St Helier and Epsom General Hospital aiming to provide hand surgery and offer general plastic surgery support.

The appointee is expected to develop and undertake research in the field of hand surgery, teaching duties of undergraduate and postgraduate medical staff as well as allied health professionals. Participation in audit and research and Trust clinical governance programme will be essential.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Department of Plastic Surgery currently employs 15 Consultant Plastic Surgeons and provides specialty expertise as per “hub and spoke” model at hospitals in Guildford (Royal County Surrey), Roehampton (Queen Mary), Kingston, Epsom (Epsom General and St Helier), and Croydon.

The Department of Plastic Surgery currently provides expertise in the following specialty related clinical  categories:

• Onco-plastics: Skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma), Head and neck cancer, Breast reconstruction, reconstruction for urology and gynaecology
• Hand and Wrist Surgery
• Trauma and Orthopaedics
• Congenital Deformities: Birth marks, skin lesions, hand and upper limb abnormalities, vascular malformations
• Paediatric Trauma and General Plastic Surgery
• General Plastic Surgery: Wound healing, Pressure sores, Scar management, Sternotomy wounds, Facial palsy, abdominal wall reconstruction, Perineal Reconstruction; Gender Reaffirmation, Massive Weight Loss Surgery