Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Job summary
The Plastic Surgery department currently works across multiple sites providing outpatient clinics in Darlington Memorial Hospital, the University Hospital of North Durham, Bishop Auckland Hospital, Shotley Bridge Hospital, Sedgefield Community Hospital and Chester-Le-Street Hospital. Inpatient and day case treatment is carried out Darlington Memorial Hospital, University Hospital North Durham, and Shotley Bridge Hospital. Previous experience in Plastic Surgery is essential. The post is based at the University Hospital of North Durham with clinics and theatres at Darlington Memorial Hospital and Bishop Auckland in addition to the University Hospital of North Durham.

The basic contract is for 10+1 programmed activities plus a 1:8 on call week. There will need to be a discussion with the post holder regarding the final plan/on-call arrangements prior to commencement of the appointment.

Taking this into account it is proposed that whilst a successful candidate will spend most of their programmed activities the University Hospital of North Durham it is expected that the role would involve programmed activities at other hospitals within the trust.

Main duties of the job
The Plastic Surgery department is a surgical specialty within the larger Surgical Care Group. The unit currently provides Plastic Surgery services to the population of Durham, Darlington, North Yorkshire, Bishop Auckland, Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead. The department works on a hub and spoke basis with in-patient elective and Trauma work based on the University Hospital of Durham (UHND) site, day case and outpatient clinics on the Bishop Auckland and Shotley Bridge sites and outpatient clinics only in Sunderland, South Tyneside, Gateshead and Sedgefield hospitals.

Job responsibilities
The Plastic Surgical team at UHND currently comprises eight substantive consultants providing a trauma commitment on a 1:8 basis as surgeon of the week. The on call is split 3:4 from Fri 7:45am to Mon 7:45am and Mon 7:45am to Friday 7.45am at UHND. All elective clinics and theatre lists are cancelled during the trauma week allowing the on-call consultant to concentrate on emergency work. This allows improved management of emergencies and gives time for teaching, administration, etc. There are morning Trauma clinics seven days a week and dedicated emergency operating theatre is available 4 times a week in the afternoon (4 days in the weekdays) and shared CEPOD theatres with other surgical specialities once in the weekdays and on the weekends.

On the UHND site adult inpatient services are admitted on to two wards depending on screened elective or non-screened emergency categorisation. There is a separate short-stay surgical ward area and day case unit reserved for elective cases. Childrens inpatient and day case services are provided on a dedicated paediatric ward and there is also a designated day surgery unit.

On the DMH site adult in patient services are provided on a mixed surgical unit. There is also a separate short stay facility and day case area.

At BAGH there is a shared inpatient area and dedicated day surgery unit.

There is intensive care and HDU provision on the two base sites both at UHND and DMH.

A dedicated plastic surgery secretarial team is provided from UHND and a named secretary will be identified.

The plastic surgery team presently consists of - Consultants:

• Mr J Wokes (Clinical Lead)
• Mr A Appukuttan
• Mr R Chalmers
• Mr T Collin
• Mr J Kim
• Mr H Khashaba
• Mr O Osmani

Other Grades:

• Clinical Assistant (GPWSI)
• ST 3-6 training registrars
• 2 Trust registrars
• Trust Grade (SHO)
• 3 CT1/2
• 6 FY1 (shared with Orthopaedics)

The post advertised is for a Consultant Plastic Surgeon to provide general plastic surgery and reconstructive services to an estimated population of 1.4 million. The post holder will be based at the University Hospital of North Durham where most inpatient surgery and all trauma is currently accommodated and will also include clinics and theatre sessions in Darlington Memorial Hospital. Trust wide working and ability to get to sites is essential.

Applicants will have interest in skin cancer surgery and upper limb surgery. Experience of microsurgery and free flap reconstruction is preferred. Applicants should have completed their FRCS (Plast) or equivalent and be on the General Medical Council Specialist Register or be within 6 months of CCT at the time of the interview date with a license to practice. They should have a good overall level of experience of elective plastic surgery and all aspects of plastics trauma and hand surgery including microsurgical reconstruction.

Main Duties

• The post holder will be based at University Hospital North Durham but will predominantly provide a comprehensive Plastic Surgery Service as well as reconstructive services to the people of South Durham, Bishop Auckland and Darlington and will be available for clinical advice. And will be involved, in conjunction with colleagues in Plastic Surgery, for planning future development in the service.
• The Consultant has continuing responsibility for the care of patients in their charge and for the proper functioning of the department in which they work.
• For management purposes and use of resources the post holder will be accountable to the General Manager & Clinical Lead for Plastic Surgery and will ensure the effective and efficient use of resources allocated.
• The post holder will be responsible for the professional and educational supervision of junior staff.
• The post holder will be expected to participate in the postgraduate teaching of medical staff as well as teaching of undergraduates attached to the Trust and in the training of all grades of staff.
• Research activities, which are considered to be an inherent part of normal clinical duties, will be encouraged and limited research funding may be available following successful applications to the local Research and Development Committee.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) the post holder is responsible for ensuring that they meet the national requirements for CPD, both internal and external. You will be expected to attend regularly and contribute to the weekly half-day educational session held by the Directorate.
• It is expected that the post holder will participate in clinical audit.
• The post holder will be expected to participate in clinical governance arrangements in line with national and local guidelines and in respect of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the Trust in accordance with current best practice.
• If the post holder is involved in the care of a patient who subsequently initiates a claim against the Trust you will be expected to provide, free of charge, an opinion and statement of facts on the case.
• The post holder will be expected to deputise in the absence of colleagues in cases of annual leave, study leave and short-term sickness as far as is practicable and ensure continuous patient care.

Person Specification
Qualifications (Essential)

• Medical Degree
• License to practice
• MRCS / FRCS or Equivalent

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Essential: Hand trauma experience; Complex Hand cases; Experience in skin cancer; Good overall experience of elective plastic surgery and all aspects of plastics trauma and hand surgery; Management Skills; Able to manage own time; Audit Skills; Evidence of previous involvement in clinical audit; Teaching Skills; Evidence of teaching junior staff
• Desirable: Microsurgery experience

Experience

• Essential: Experience in skin cancer, microsurgery reconstruction, and general plastic surgery trauma management; Experience in clinical guideline development
• Desirable: Evidence of contribution to Audit/Research; Evidence of contribution to teaching

Special Requirements (Essential)

• Willingness and ability to participate equally in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Proven ability to work well within a team.
• Ability to liaise well with colleagues in other specialties.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to cope with stress.
• Good discipline and motivation.
• Ability to travel independently across site to meet the needs of then service.
• Fluent in English.

Statutory Registration (Essential)

• Full and specialist registration with GMC (and Licence to Practice).
• Holder of Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or should have attained or be within 6 months of attaining CCT in Specialty at time of interview.

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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address: University Hospital Of North Durham, North Road, DURHAM, DH1 5TW, United Kingdom
Employer's website:

Contact: Clinical Lead Plastic Surgery, James Wokes, View email address on meeveem.com

Closing date: 23 November 2026

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