Locum Consultant Anaesthetist with interest in Regional Anaesthesia

Job overview

We are looking to welcome a locum consultant anaesthetist to primarily work within adult general theatres and be on the daytime adult general on call rota.  We require the applicant to have skills in major general surgery and regional anaesthesia.  Additional qualifications or interest in safety, quality and governance would also be of benefit.  This is a fixed term post of 1 year.

We are the largest hospital in the Southwest Peninsula, and offer a secondary care service to approximately 500 000 patients, and a tertiary care service to a further 1.5 million.  We are a major trauma centre. Almost all adult surgical specialties are catered for, including cardiac, neurosurgery, thoracics and paediatrics. A successful applicant will be joining a welcoming and friendly department that has held ACSA Accreditation since 2015 and is proud of its collegiate spirit. We have a strong track record in clinical excellence & translational research, and receive very positive feedback from our rotating trainees.  We understand the need to accommodate a healthy work life balance and aim to support flexible working.  We have a lively social programme and a dedicated anaesthetic coffee room, known as the 'Back Bar'.

We are located on the Devon/Cornwall border with access to all the amenities of a metropolitan city, yet moments away from the moors and sea.  We are proud that Plymouth was voted the top city to live in England in 2023!

Main duties of the job

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Locum Consultant Anaesthetist to join our team, providing high-quality anaesthesia services across a broad range of specialties. The successful candidate will be expected to deliver expert anaesthesia care for procedures spanning general surgery, major trauma, orthopaedics, plastics and other specialities.  As this is a locum post, the job plan will be at least 50% flexi sessions, enabling the post holder to retain diverse skills.

At the core of our work is a commitment to putting people at the heart of our service, ensuring the highest standards of care for our patients in a compassionate and professional manner.

In addition to clinical duties, the post holder will actively contribute to teaching and training. We have a strong partnership with the University of Plymouth, and as part of this role, you will engage in both undergraduate and postgraduate education. This will involve mentoring junior doctors, delivering lectures, and supporting clinical learning. You will also be encouraged to participate in continuing medical education and quality improvement activities, ensuring ongoing professional development for both yourself and the team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We strongly believe that a job plan should work for both the individual and the service. The successful applicant will therefore have the opportunity to meet with the Service Line Director prior to starting in post to agree a personalised job plan that reflects their skills, interests, and preferred working patterns, bearing in mind that we hope to utilise skills in regional anaesthesia and major general surgery.

We recognise that flexibility is key to supporting wellbeing and long-term career satisfaction. We are proud of our track record in offering highly flexible working arrangements and are committed to helping colleagues balance their professional and personal lives. We're also keen to help people focus on the areas of practice they enjoy most — we know that when people do what they love, they bring their best selves to work.

Job plans typically include 1.5 PAs of generic Supporting Professional Activities (SPA) time, though this can be tailored depending on roles in education, management, research, or quality improvement.

As a locum consultant, you will play a part in evening and weekend daytime on call work, as well as contribute to our plastics and trauma weekend rota.  This enables people to develop their leadership skills whilst being supported by the rest of the department.

We would be more than happy to discuss any aspect of the job plan, rota, or working arrangements. Informal visits to the department, hospital, and local area are warmly encouraged