Physician Associate - Trauma & Orthopaedics

Job summary
We are looking for two Physician Associates to join our Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics (T&O), providing ward-based care to support our Silver Trauma Service under the supervision of our Orthogeriatric Team at Bristol Royal Infirmary.

The successful applicant will be responsible for providing care for elderly trauma and fragility fracture patients on the Silver Trauma Unit with potential to progress to additional support within the Bone Health for Older People (BHOP) Clinic and departmental Quality Improvement Projects (QIPs).

The recruited PA will need to be skilled in managing complex frail elderly patients with trauma, perioperative care needs, osteoporosis, falls prevention, rehabilitation and discharge planning.

All applicants must hold a valid qualification in Physician Associate Studies and be listed on the General Medical Council (GMC) to be considered for this post.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will work under the clinical supervision of an Orthogeriatric Consultant on A604 at BRI (Silver Trauma Unit) to deliver high-quality care to patients. The post holder will be required to:

• Clinically assess and examine a broad caseload of patients with a high degree of clinical skill and knowledge
• Interpret diagnostic tests and imaging and appropriately act upon the result, including timely escalation to senior clinicians
• Conduct daily ward rounds on A604 (T&O/Orthogeris)
• Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures under appropriate supervision
• Fully integrate within the multidisciplinary team, communicating effectively with other healthcare professionals
• Make complex referrals to appropriate specialists and enact their advice promptly
• Provide health and wellbeing counselling to patients and their relatives
• Contribute to the development of efficient care pathways following current best practices and national guidelines
• Accurately document all aspects of patient care
• Support and contribute to timely discharge planning including the completion of discharge summaries
• Report all actual and potential clinical incidents using the DATIX reporting system
• Ensure excellent adherence to infection control policies and practice

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.

Chaired by Ingrid Barker and led by Maria Kane as Chief Executive, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust aims to transform the way healthcare is delivered locally with a clear focus on making a difference for what we call our Four Ps:

• Better outcomes for our Patients
• More opportunities for our People
• Fairer more consistent care for our Population
• Best Value for Public Purse

Our vision for five years from now:

• Patients will wait less time to be diagnosed and treated, and they will have the same high-quality experience and outcomes, regardless of who they are or where they live.
• We will meet rising demand by maximising the use of our available resources.
• More care will be delivered nearer to patients, in their homes or the community.
• Digital technologies will have transformed the way we work and the way we deliver care.
• Our people will feel engaged, energised and empowered by their work.
• We will be known as a place where people enjoy working, training and building a career.
• Our volume of globally renowned research and innovation will have grown significantly.
• We will contribute to system financial balance

Details
Date posted: 01 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 387-S3206-LH
Job locations: Bristol Royal Infirmary, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Hours of work:
Full-time posts will initially be Monday Friday from 0900-1700 or a total of 37.5 hours per week, as agreed with the department. Evening and weekend shifts are not required at present but may be introduced in the future to meet service needs

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• Minimum of a BSc/BA undergraduate degree prior to undertaking PA training
• MSc/PgDip in Physician Associate Studies from a recognised PA training programme
• Registered with the General Medical Council
• Evidence of post-qualification learning and development
• Basic life support (BLS)

Desirable

• Immediate Life Support (ILS) / Advanced Life Support (ALS) - score 2 for either

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Experience working as a fully qualified PA
• Excellent knowledge of medical science and its application to clinical scenarios
• Able to demonstrate sound clinical judgement
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of clinical governance
• Experience working cohesively within a multidisciplinary team
• Demonstrable interest in and an understanding of orthopaedic geriatric medicine

Desirable

• Experience of working in secondary care
• Experience in working in Care of the Elderly or Orthogeriatrics
• Experience in clinical audit
• Experience mentoring and training PA students
• Awareness of current developments and initiatives in Orthogeriatrics

Aptitudes
Essential

• Ability to work within competency and seek help when appropriate
• Caring and empathetic attitude toward patients and their relatives
• Enthusiasm to learn
• Awareness of self-development needs and motivation to seek development opportunities
• Flexibility and embracing change
• Honesty and reliability

Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Ability to safely prioritise workload
• Ability to interpret and implement guidelines, policies and procedures
• Ability to effectively communicate highly complex and sensitive information (verbal and written)
• Safe and competent performance of core procedural skills (i.e. venepuncture, cannulation, catheterisation, etc.)
• Ability to exercise sound judgement when presented with conflicting work pressures
• Excellent organisational skills
• Experience working with and contributing to a multidisciplinary team
• Evidence of competence in management of medical emergencies and in-patients through continuous work based assessments

Desirable

• Competence in extended clinical skills (i.e lumbar puncture, paracentesis, thoracocentesis)

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Bristol Royal Infirmary, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom
Employer's website:

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Orthopaedic Consultant, Henry Burnand, View email address on meeveem.com