Locum Consultant in Anaesthesia

Job overview

We’re excited to invite a Consultant Anaesthetist to join our dynamic, forward-thinking department! This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with experience or interest in peri-operative allergy to make a real impact in a supportive and innovative environment. Experience of major general neuroanaesthesia, regional anaesthesia and working in a major trauma centre would also be of value. We also would value an active interest in research as we work towards being a centre of research excellence.

Our department has proudly held ACSA Accreditation since 2015 and is known for its clinical excellence, strong research culture, and positive feedback from rotating trainees. We are a warm, collaborative team that values professional development, education, and teamwork.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and actively encourage applications from all backgrounds. We support a range of flexible working options to help you achieve a healthy work-life balance.

You’ll also enjoy a vibrant social programme and our dedicated anaesthetic coffee room — fondly known as the Back Bar.

Located on the beautiful Devon/Cornwall border, Plymouth offers the perfect mix of city living and access to the moors and coast, with excellent transport links nearby.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Consultant Anaesthetist to join our team, providing high-quality anaesthesia services across a broad range of specialties, including general surgery, major trauma, obstetrics, and neurosurgery (all covered by on call duties) At the heart of our service is a commitment to delivering compassionate, person-centred care of the highest standard. A requirement of this job is to be able to run our peri-operative allergy clinic independently.

In addition to clinical duties, you will contribute to teaching and training through our partnership with the University of Plymouth. This includes mentoring junior doctors, delivering lectures, and supporting both undergraduate and postgraduate clinical learning. You’ll also be encouraged to participate in continuing medical education and quality improvement activities.

As our department evolves, your job plan will adapt to support both service needs and your professional interests. We are expanding, which also gives you the opportunity to help shape and create care for our community for the future.

We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming team and are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across our workforce. We value flexible working and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and working patterns

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We have included an indicative 10 PA job plan within the candidate pack; however, 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.

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.

We run a first-on call rota for anaesthesia (excluding cardiac, ICU, and paediatrics), which is supported by a second-on call consultant. When on first-on call, you must be within 30 minutes of the hospital, and for second-on call, within 45 minutes. Resident trainees are available overnight in obstetrics, the emergency theatre, ICU, and cardiac ICU, ensuring senior support is well integrated into our system.

As part of our commitment to sustainability and work-life balance, we have a clear and supportive process for taking colleagues off the on-call rota in the latter stages of their career, if desired.

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

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.