Consultant Plastic Surgeon

• Weekly Hours / Programmed Activities: 10
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Job Area: Medics

Company Description Substantive or Initial Short-Term Locum Appointment Considered

Job Summary The Mountbatten Department of Plastic Surgery at Queen Alexandra Hospital is seeking an enthusiastic and committed Consultant Plastic Surgeon to join our established and evolving service.

We are keen to appoint to a substantive Consultant position. However, recognising that candidates may wish to understand the department and the role before making a longer-term commitment, we are also willing to consider an initial short-term locum appointment in the first instance, with the potential for a subsequent substantive appointment by mutual agreement and subject to the usual Trust approval processes.

This flexible approach is intended to support both service continuity and recruitment of the right individual to the department.

Applications from candidates seeking full-time, less-than-full-time or job-share arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in accordance with service requirements.

The Department Plastic Surgery at Queen Alexandra Hospital provides a broad range of acute and elective Plastic Surgery services, including:

• Acute Plastic Surgery and hand trauma
• Hand surgery
• Skin cancer and surgical oncology
• Microsurgical reconstruction
• Breast reconstruction
• Day-case and ambulatory Plastic Surgery
• Complex multidisciplinary care

The department works closely with Breast Surgery, Oncology, Radiology, Dermatology, Hand Therapy and other surgical specialties.

The successful candidate will join a consultant team committed to developing a resilient, high-quality and sustainable Plastic Surgery service.

The Opportunity We are looking for a Consultant who will contribute positively to the clinical service while helping us develop the department for the future.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Deliver high-quality elective and acute Plastic Surgery care
• Participate in the Plastic Surgery on-call rota
• Contribute to multidisciplinary working
• Support the education and development of trainees and colleagues
• Participate in clinical governance, audit and quality improvement
• Contribute to service development and pathway redesign
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Trust and wider regional network

The department supports consultants to develop specialist interests whilst maintaining the flexibility required to provide a sustainable service.

Reconstructive Microsurgery We particularly welcome candidates with experience or an interest in reconstructive microsurgery.

Experience in microsurgical breast reconstruction is desirable, but we recognise that reconstructive microsurgery encompasses a broad range of clinical practice.

Candidates with complementary expertise, including significant experience in hand trauma and the occasional complex knee reconstructive surgery, are encouraged to apply.

Flexible Working We recognise that modern consultant careers increasingly require flexibility.

We therefore welcome applications from:

• Full-time consultants
• Less-than-full-time consultants
• Candidates interested in job-sharing
• Candidates with portfolio or other professional commitments

We are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements at an early stage and will seek to develop a job plan that meets both service requirements and the successful candidate's professional circumstances.

The department is also geographically accessible from London and the wider South Coast region, and we would be pleased to discuss working arrangements with candidates who may wish to commute.

An Opportunity to Find the Right Long-Term Fit For candidates who are interested in the department but would prefer to establish mutual suitability before making a long-term commitment, an initial short-term locum appointment may be considered.

This could provide an opportunity for the successful candidate and the department to work together, understand the service and team, and explore whether a longer-term substantive appointment would be appropriate.

Any subsequent substantive appointment would remain subject to the appropriate Trust recruitment and approval processes.

Service Development The Plastic Surgery Department is embarking on a five-year programme to grow the service and deliver high-quality, sustainable care.

Areas of development include:

• Improving timely access and RTT performance
• Developing ambulatory and see-and-treat pathways
• Strengthening hand trauma and reconstructive pathways
• Developing microsurgical reconstruction
• Working with Hand Therapy to reduce unnecessary follow-up
• Improving integration with regional complex knee reconstruction partners
• Supporting education, training, research and innovation

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to this development according to their interests and expertise.

On-Call Commitment Consultants currently participate in the Plastic Surgery on-call rota, supported by junior trainees and the Hospital at Night team.

The precise rota and job plan will be discussed with the successful candidate and will reflect the agreed working pattern and service requirements.

What We Are Looking For We are looking for an individual who demonstrates:

• Appropriate specialist Plastic Surgery experience
• High clinical standards and commitment to patient safety
• Effective multidisciplinary working
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Commitment to clinical governance and continuous improvement
• Enthusiasm for education and training
• Flexibility and willingness to contribute to service development
• A collaborative approach to working within a consultant team

Why Join Us? This is an opportunity to join a department at an important stage of its development.

We are looking for colleagues who want not simply to deliver an existing service, but to contribute to building a resilient, collaborative and sustainable Plastic Surgery department for the future.

We would particularly welcome an informal conversation with prospective applicants to discuss the role, flexible working arrangements and the possibility of an initial short-term locum appointment.

Informal Enquiries Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Clinical Lead or members of the Plastic Surgery consultant team for an informal discussion and/or to arrange a visit.

Job Description The successful candidate would be expected to adopt a flexible approach to job planning and engage in the provision of patient services to other specialties apart from the main department.

The department allows Consultants to practice in a sub-specialist role. The successful candidate will be expected to have experience in breast reconstruction including microvascular techniques and able to operate as a second surgeon in free flaps. Hand trauma experience is desirable.

The ability to communicate and work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team is vital. It is also anticipated that the successful candidate would contribute to increasing the national profile of the department through publications and presentations at international meeting

Consultants currently take part in a 1:6 weekday on call rota, supported by junior trainees and a Hospital at Night Team.

The post holder will be appointed on a consultant contract and the sessions will be allocated accordingly. The job plan is for a 10 PA working week. The job plan is reviewed on an annual basis.

Any Consultant who is unable, for personal reasons to work full-time, i.e. only on a part-time basis, will be eligible to be considered for the post. If such a person is appointed, modification of his/her job plan will be discussed between the Consultant and Clinical Director in conjunction with Consultant Colleagues if appropriate.

The post will be available from December 2026 subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks. If you consider it unlikely that you will be able to take up the appointment within such a period, you are advised to point this out at the time of your application.

The timetable will be finalised on appointment but will typically involve two operating sessions per week and two clinics. Commitments would be flexible within the job plan with PAs allocated to administration, clinical and educational supervisor roles and SPA. The successful candidate would also be expected to engage with colleagues in plans towards routine weekend working.

Intending applicants may obtain further information and/or arrange a visit by contacting Mr Obi Onyekwelu, Clinical Lead on Ext. 4148 or other consultants in the Department.

Essential

• Full GMC registration with a licence to practice
• Professional Qualifications FRCS (Plastics) and / or EBOPRAS

Desirable

• Microsurgery fellowship

Clinical Experience

• Entry on the GMC specialist register via CCT (proposed date must be within 6 months), CESR or European Community Rights
• Knowledge of Current Trends in Specialty of management of breast reconstruction and / or hand surgery
• Knowledge of Current Trends in Specialty of management of Skin Cancers.
• Experience of Medical Management

Clinical Skills

• Demonstrable skills and experience of Elective and Acute Plastic Surgery
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