Job details
- Job reference: 255011
- Salary: Specialty Doctor - 2022 (£64,158 - £99,975)
- Job closing date: 03/08/2026
- Job Type: Medical and Dental
- Location: University Hospital Ayr
- Employment type: Fixed-term
- Hours Per Week: 40
- Job posted date: 27/07/2026
- Employer (NHS Board): NHS Ayrshire & Arran
- Department: Anaesthetics
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
Applications are invited from enthusiastic and forward thinking anaesthetists for a 12 month Specialty Doctor in Anaesthesia post within NHS Ayrshire and Arran (NHSAA). This post is available for 10 programmed activities, with 9 direct clinical care and 1 supporting professional activities and based at the University Hospital Ayr (UHA).
The successful applicant will be joining a team of 44 Consultant Anaesthetists, 1 Specialist, 1 Associate Specialists, 15 SAS doctors, 20 Anaesthetists in training and 3 Anaesthesia Associates. NHSAA has two district general hospitals. UHA and University Hospital Crosshouse (UHC).
UHA has been developed as a centre of excellence for Elective Orthopaedics, Urology, General Surgery and Ophthalmology. There is an 8 bedded level 2 critical care unit which is staffed in hours by the critical care service with out of hours cover provided by the anaesthetists on the UHA site. You will have the opportunity to develop subspecialty interests including perioperative medicine, regional anaesthesia and critical care.
UHC has been developed as the regional trauma unit, in addition to all paediatric, obstetrics, gynaecology, maxillofacial & ENT services being located on that site. There is an 18 bedded Critical Care unit at UHC providing Level 3 beds.
The post will involve a full shift pattern on an 8 week rotation for emergency anaesthesia, hospital emergencies, input to critical care and inter-hospital transfer of critically ill patients from UHA to UHC who require an intensive care bed or transfer for tertiary care.
Appropriately experienced applicants must have Full Registration (with a Licence to Practice) with the General Medical Council, and have completed at least 4 years full-time postgraduate training, of which at least 2 years will have been within Anaesthesia.
Key points :
- There is a wide range of teaching opportunities for postgraduate and undergraduate medical students from national and international universities using facilitated learning and simulation.
- Team members are supported to perform regional and national posts.
- We encourage and support our Specialty Doctors with the CESR process
- UHA has been recognised as the top performing orthopaedic arthroplasty theatre in Scotland.
- NHS Ayrshire & Arran have established a nationally recognised Medical Peer Support Programme with formally trained Mentors.
- UHA and UHC are situated within the greenbelt with easy access to the countryside. Both have free parking and cycling facilities.
UHA has a preschool nursery on site
Both UHC and UHA are easily accessed by road, with the M77 providing access to Glasgow within 30-45 minutes. Rail and Bus services also link Ayr and Kilmarnock to Glasgow and other surrounding towns. Prestwick Airport lies approximately a 15 minute drive away.
Both sites have free car parking facilities and active transport encouraged with on-site cycle storage and shower facilities.
Ayrshire is great place to live and work, with a great coastal location and wide open sandy beaches. This offers exciting leisure opportunities including water-based activities such as sailing, kitesurfing and paddle boarding. There are multiple championship golf courses in the region, and exceptional road and off-road cycling. The island of Arran is a ferry ride away for day trips or short breaks. It is a fantastic place to raise a family, with affordable housing and access to first-rate schools.
Come and join the team at NHS Ayrshire & Arran.
For further information contact:
Dr Chris Johnstone, Clinical Director Anaesthesia 01563 827172 (Anaesthetic Department) chris.johnstone@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
Dr John Allan, Clinical Director Critical Care 01563 827172 (Anaesthetic Department) john.allan@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
Dr Sunny Bhatt. Deputy Clinical Director 01292 610555 (Switchboard)
Dr Ian Anderson, Deputy Clinical Director 01563 827172
Caroline Clark , General Manager, Surgical Services 01292 610555
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full GMC Registration with a current Licence to Practice
- Medical Degree
- Completion of a least 4 years’ full-time postgraduate training (or its equivalent gained on a part-time or flexible basis) at least 2 of which will be in a specialty training programme in Anaesthesia, or as a fixed term specialty trainee in relevant Anaesthesia, or shall have equivalent experience and competencies.
- Experience of working in the NHS
- Experience of Critical Care
Desirable
- Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists
- ALS Provider
- ATLS Provider
- Transfer Medicine qualification
Skills/Knowledge/Competence
Essential
- Knowledge of and skill relevant to the management of patients requiring anaesthesia for elective and emergency surgery.
- Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff and patients
- Ability to work efficiently and timeously
- IT literacy
- Ability to lead appropriate others in the theatre environment and think strategically
- Effective Team Player
- Evidence of relevant Continuing Professional Development
- Evidence of satisfactory compliance with appraisal requirements
- Ability to deliver good quality teaching
- Evidence of involvement in medical audit
- Commitment to effective departmental management and participation in a multidisciplinary group
- Proven organisational skills
- A willingness to accept flexibility to meet the changing needs of the NHS in Scotland
- Effective Communicator & negotiator
- Willingness to develop special interests conforming to the needs of NHS Ayrshire & Arran
- Ability to operate on a variety of different levels
- Open and non-confrontational
Desirable
- Ability to develop and maintain a database of clinical practice
- Interest in and knowledge of advances in medical education and training
- Evidence of publications or presentations relating to Anaesthesia
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This advert is for Specialty Doctor Anaesthetics with NHS Ayrshire and Arran in Crosshouse, West of Scotland, Scotland. It is listed as a Senior Medical doctor Anaesthesia and Intensive Care role. The advertised salary is £64,158 - £99,975. The contract type is Fixed-term. The application deadline is 03 Aug 2026.
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