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Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom["Full-time"]
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Company Description
Substantive or Initial Short-Term Locum Appointment Considered
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust – Queen Alexandra Hospital
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
Reconstructive surgery
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
Optimising day-case surgery
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 02392 286000 Ext. 4148 or other consultants in the Department.
Interview date tbc.
Pending Royal College Approval
•
Job Description
Qualifications
Qualifications
Qualifications
Essential
• Full GMC registration with a licence to practice
• Professional Qualifications FRCS (Plastics) and / or EBOPRAS
Desirable
• Microsurgery fellowship
Clinical Experience
Essential
• 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
• Understanding of clinical risk management
Knowledge
• Able to demonstrate appropriate level of clinical knowledge
• Knowledge and use of evidence based practice
• IT skills
• Effective, confident presentation ability
• Experience in and outside speciality
Other
• Evidence of participation in audit
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Publications
• Prizes and honours
• Logical thinking, problem solving and decision making
Applicants must hold the Fellowship of one of the Royal Colleges and or EBOPRAS. Candidates should have completed, or be within six months of completing, a training programme leading to Specialist Registration. Candidates must have a specialist interest in breast reconstruction and / or hand surgery. They should have an interest in the management of hand trauma and skin cancer to support the functioning of the department
Additional Information
The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.
We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.
For more information, please see our People and OD Strategy 2026
Weekly Hours / Programmed Activities: 10
Contract Type: Permanent
Job Area: Medics