Consultant Respiratory Medicine & GIM

Job summary
Working Full time - 10 Sessions per week

We are seeking enthusiastic, highly motivated Consultants to join our current Respiratory Medicine team. The posts are to support the expansion of the Respiratory department to support an increased throughput of outpatient capacity for general and/or specialist Respiratory clinics; and to allow capacity to develop ambulatory and/or community-based services, establishment of acute clinics and provide support for the new Consultant model for inpatient care.

The Trust is committed to the provision of high quality, Consultant-led Respiratory Services. We would welcome colleagues with any sub-speciality interest especially Asthma and / or chronic Respiratory illness; alternately, we can offer sub-specialty experience / training in any of our established services, suitable for the individual and the needs of our department.

The Respiratory Team consists of a Physiotherapist, a Specialist Respiratory Nurse Team, a Research Nurse, a Cancer Nurse Specialist Team, an Oxygen Assessment Service along with fully equipped Physiology Laboratory. We have an established EBUS service, a new Thoracoscope service and a thrice-weekly lung cancer clinic along with an active clinical trials programme. The current Sleep Service provides both a diagnostic and therapeutic CPAP treatment and the dedicated interstitial lung disease clinic provides a networked approach to the management of ILD patients working in liaison with regional referral centres.

Main duties of the job
This is an exciting time to join the Respiratory team as the successful candidate will be working in a newly opened purpose-built 11-bed Respiratory Support Unit (RSU).

We have an active research programme within the Chester Respiratory Research Unit and the successful applicant will be supported and encouraged to develop clinical research within the department. The department has links with the University of Chester (who will be opening a new graduate-entry medical school in 2023) through the Institute of Medicine and is supported by a significant administrative resource.

The Trust has a keen interest and deep involvement in medical education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Most of the Respiratory consultants were supported in obtaining and hold a postgraduate qualification in teaching.

Chester is a popular tourist destination, conveniently located for easy access to the beautiful countryside of Wales: with its iconic Snowdonia mountains, with good motorway links to Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. Chester also has excellent housing facilities and schools, both government and independent.

Applicants should be on the GMC Specialist Register for Respiratory and G(I)M, or be within six months of their CCT date at interview. Applicants wishing to work part-time or job share are also encouraged to apply.

About us
The Trust's services are provided from three locations: o The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds. o Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility. o Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population. The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery.

Closing date: 12 November 2026

Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year pa
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 210-2026-766

Essential qualifications

• Entry on the Specialist Register in Respiratory Medicine (or entry expected within 6 months from the date of interview)
• MRCP or equivalent

Desirable qualifications

• Higher Degree - PhD/MD/Msc

Essential experience

• Clinical training and experience equivalent to that required for gaining CCT/CESR in Respiratory and general internal medicine
• Ability to take full and independent responsibility for the management of acute medical emergencies
• Ability to take full and independent responsibility for the care of patients
• Experience in bronchoscopy

Desirable experience

• Experience and training in a busy respiratory unit
• Area of specialist respiratory interest that aligns with departmental requirements (Asthma) and enthusiasm to develop these
• Experience of integrated care
• Experience in EBUS/Thoracoscopy

Contact: Clinical Lead, Ben Vlies, benvlies@nhs.net, 01244366297

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Applicants requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome to apply. The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.