Microsurgical Reconstructive Fellow SpR Equivalent

Job overview

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has an exciting opportunity for a Fellowship SpR Equivalent in Microsurgical Reconstruction to join the Trust Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for a 12 month fixed term period from 07/10/2026 to 05/10/2027. Future posts may be appointed if there are suitable applicants; please indicate clearly in your application when you would be ready and available to start.

The post holder will be one of 2 microsurgical fellows in the Department who will be expected to work together and provide guidance to the more junior Registrars in General Plastic Surgery. The successful applicant will be expected to have the experience for clinical activity as laid out in the job description. The post holder should have passed the FRCS(Plast) or equivalent exam at the time of commencing in post. The post-holder is encouraged to partake in and publish projects that have been established, as well as newer studies, and present the results at local and national meetings. Microsurgical experience such as previous Fellowship is desirable but not essential.

The post is based primarily at Charing Cross Hospital and to a lesser extent at the St Mary’s site. The post holder will join the SpR on call rota covering all Trust sites.

The principle workload of the Plastic Surgery Service is cancer reconstruction; breast, head & neck, skin cancer; extremity trauma and elective hand surgery. The Department specialises in microsurgical reconstruction; head and neck reconstruction and breast reconstruction on the Charing Cross site; extremity reconstruction, providing Plastic Surgery services to the Trust’s Level 1 Major Trauma Centre at St Mary’s Hospital. The Department is responsible for the care of general Plastic Surgery patients with an emphasis on tertiary referrals and undertakes between 200-250 free flaps per year, manages approximately 150 open lower limb fractures and 30 complex upper limb injuries each year and provides a hand trauma service for injuries attending the St Mary’s site.

Candidates must be eligible for registration or hold full registration with the GMC.

The post does not have Post Graduate Dean approval but has been recognised by the SAC so that the successful applicant can prospectively apply for the time to be recognised for training.

We are not currently accepting any visitors to the Department. For informal discussions or further information, interested candidates can contact:

Ms Liz Dex, Associate Specialist Plastic Surgeon - liz.dex@nhs.net

Mr Francis Henry, Consultant Plastic Surgeon – francis.henry@nhs.net

Main duties of the job

Title of Post: Microsurgical Reconstructive Fellow (SpR Equivalent)

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Location: Charing Cross and St Mary’s Sites

Responsible to: Mr Matt Ives, Clinical Lead

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The duties of the post are performed mainly at Charing Cross Hospital but on call cover is provided across the 3 hospitals in Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust; St Mary’s; Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals.

The post holder will join the Specialist Registrars’ daily and on call rota. The post holder will be one of two Microsurgical Fellows in the Department. The 2 Fellows will be expected to work together to ensure organisation of the day to day work and to share out the microsurgical work equitably. The Fellow will work closely with all Consultants in the care of both routine and emergency clinical problems.  It is expected that the post holder will have the opportunity to attend the majority of the microsurgical procedures; however, it is not to the exclusion of the experience and requirements of the Specialist Registrars training.  The Microsurgical Fellow should reach a level that they learn to supervise less experienced trainees in microsurgery.

The post‑holder will see all patients admitted to the Plastic Surgery Unit and perform a daily ward round with the other Specialist Registrars and junior doctors. The post‑holder is required to see plastic surgical emergency patients in the Emergency Departments of the Trust Hospitals and patients referred to the service from other specialties in the Trust. The Fellow will be expected to provide support to the Major Trauma Centre at St Mary’s Hospital. The Fellow will be expected to assist Consultants in the operating theatre and will undertake elective and emergency surgery personally, with supervision when appropriate. The Fellow will attend weekly outpatient clinics.

The Fellow with their colleagues will ensure adequate teaching and supervision is provided for the Plastic Surgery junior doctors. It is the responsibility of the Fellow to ensure that communication within the Plastic Surgery service is as effective as possible, keeping both the Consultants and Senior Nursing staff informed of the clinical management of all patients admitted to the Plastic Surgery wards.

Detailed protocols for clinical management are available in the department which the post‑holder is expected to adhere to at all times.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will join the Specialist Registrars’ daily and on call rota. The post holder will be one of two Microsurgical Fellows in the Department. The 2 Fellows will be expected to work together to ensure organisation of the day to day work and to share out the microsurgical work equitably. The Fellow will work closely with all Consultants in the care of both routine and emergency clinical problems.  It is expected that the post holder will have the opportunity to attend the majority of the microsurgical procedures; however, it is not to the exclusion of the experience and requirements of the Specialist Registrars training.  The Microsurgical Fellow should reach a level that they learn to supervise less experienced trainees in microsurgery.

The post‑holder will see all patients admitted to the Plastic Surgery Unit and perform a daily ward round with the other Specialist Registrars and junior doctors. The post‑holder is required to see plastic surgical emergency patients in the Emergency Departments of the Trust Hospitals and patients referred to the service from other specialties in the Trust. The Fellow will be expected to provide support to the Major Trauma Centre at St Mary’s Hospital. The Fellow will be expected to assist Consultants in the operating theatre and will undertake elective and emergency surgery personally, with supervision when appropriate. The Fellow will attend weekly outpatient clinics.

The Fellow with their colleagues will ensure adequate teaching and supervision is provided for the Plastic Surgery junior doctors. It is the responsibility of the Fellow to ensure that communication within the Plastic Surgery service is as effective as possible, keeping both the Consultants and Senior Nursing staff informed of the clinical management of all patients admitted to the Plastic Surgery wards.

Detailed protocols for clinical management are available in the department which the post‑holder is expected to adhere to at all times.