Locum Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Job summary
This is a full-time consultant post in the Plastic Surgery Department, offered for a fixed period of 12 months.

The post-holder will be expected to provide limb reconstruction and general plastic surgery. Sub-specialty interest can be discussed according to the requirements of the service and preference of the successful candidate. The successful candidates will join a further 24 consultants who offer plastic surgery and burns service to patients from the northern part of the South West region.

The Burns and Plastic Surgery service is delivered across two sites in Bristol - Southmead Hospital Operating Unit, and the Royal Bristol Hospital for Children, City Hospital Operating Unit. The postholder is expected to deliver care on both sites according to their agreed job plan and the need of the service.

The successful candidate will have regular elective theatre and outpatient capacity and will participate in the Plastic Surgery Service and On-Call rota.

Main duties of the job
The work of the Plastic Surgery Department covers a wide range of congenital and acquired conditions including skin cancer, hand surgery, lower limb trauma, breast reconstruction, head and neck malignancy, sarcoma, burns service and laser therapy. Combined clinics are held in association with other specialists including head and neck surgery, Ortho-Plastics, oncologists and dermatology. Specialist clinics include; hands, pigmented lesions, sarcoma and breast reconstruction.

There are dedicated plastics and burns general anaesthetic operating theatres and three local anaesthetic operating theatres, with 24-hour access to general emergency theatres where out of hours trauma cases are undertaken. The postholder will be provided with secretarial support and office accommodation, which will be shared with other members of the consultant team.

There will be an on-call commitment to delivering an emergency adult and paediatric plastic surgery service and applicants must be able to demonstrate a high level of clinical experience and competence in general plastic surgery. The department has dedicated emergency plastic surgery beds on Gate 33A, including seven burns unit beds, and shares elective capacity with other specialties on Gate 7A. There is access to ITU and HDU beds.

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston. With an annual turnover of 2.6 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom.

Within the Bristol NHS Foundation Trust our aim is to offer relevant, values-based and lifelong learning to all of our staff.

For medical staff

• New Consultants' support group with bespoke CPD
• Consultant mentoring by trained medical mentors
• In-house medical leadership training for aspiring clinical leaders
• Free appraiser training
• Regular consultant away days

Our goal is to build a compassionate, accountable and inclusive leadership at all levels, creating a coaching culture through diversity and talent.

Details
Date posted: 26 October 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: Depending on experience
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 339-ASCR5470-AR
Job location: Southmead Hospital, Southmead Road, Bristol, BS10 5NB

Person Specification
Qualifications

• Essential: Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons or Equivalent eg FEBOPRAS
• Essential: Full Registration with GMC
• Essential: Must have CCT or within 6 months of obtaining expected CCT date at the time of interview
• Desirable: Higher Academic Qualification (eg MD, PhD or equivalent)

Research

• Essential: Evidence of involvement in research
• Essential: Knowledge of the principles involved in research
• Desirable: Additional academic experience and qualifications e.g. PhD
• Desirable: Evidence of publication of peer reviewed academic papers

Experience

• Essential: Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in Plastic Surgery
• Essential: Minimum of 10 years postgraduate experience including higher surgical / medical training, three years as a Senior Registrar in an approved training post, or equivalent. Part of this period may be in a post of equivalent responsibility and training potential
• Essential: Able to take responsibility for delivering service without direct supervision
• Desirable: Hand Surgery Fellowship in an approved UK or overseas position or demonstrable equivalent experience
• Desirable: High-volume lower limb / extremity microsurgery Fellowship in an approved UK or overseas position or demonstrable equivalent experience

Clinical Skills and Knowledge

• Essential: Specialist knowledge, training and interest in management of limb reconstruction
• Essential: Training in diagnosis and treatment of routine plastic surgery conditions
• Essential: Experience and training in surgical management of common, non-specialised conditions in children
• Desirable: Broad range of IT skills

Clinical Governance and Audit

• Essential: Understanding of clinical governance and the individual responsibilities it implies
• Essential: Knowledge of the principles of clinical audit and evidence of participation
• Essential: Evidence of recent and regular engagement with continuing professional development (CPD)
• Essential: Positive approach to evidence-based practice

Teaching and Training

• Essential: Experience of teaching medical students and AHPs
• Essential: Experience of supervising trainees
• Essential: Knowledge of teaching to a multidisciplinary team
• Desirable: Formal teaching / education qualification
• Desirable: Educational supervisor training completed

Management and Leadership

• Essential: Ability to organise efficient and smooth running of a specialist service
• Essential: Ability to cope with and effectively organise the workload of a consultant
• Essential: Ability to practise independently as a consultant
• Essential: Evidence of management training and evidence of learning from it
• Essential: Ability to take on responsibility and show evidence of leadership
• Essential: Ability to work under pressure and cope with setbacks
• Desirable: Evidence of management/leadership experience and/or qualifications and courses

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Essential: Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, clinical colleagues, support staff and other colleagues
• Essential: Good knowledge of, and ability to use, spoken and written English
• Essential: Ability to present effectively to an audience, using a variety of methods, and to respond to questions and queries
• Essential: Ability to develop effective working relationships on an individual and multi professional basis with all levels of staff both within and across divisions
• Essential: Ability to be a flexible team member

Other

• Essential: Meets professional health requirements
• Essential: Agreement to travel to and work in other Bristol NHS Foundation Trust sites necessitated by the role
• Essential: Ability to adapt and respond to changing circumstances
• Essential: Awareness of personal limitations
• Desirable: Additional professional responsibilities at local, regional or national levels
• Desirable: Trained as a Consultant Appraiser

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Southmead Hospital, Southmead Road, Bristol, BS10 5NB, United Kingdom

For questions about the job, contact:
Clinical Lead for Plastic Surgery
Mr Ewan Wilson
ewan.wilson4@nhs.net

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