Consultant in Thoracic Surgery: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

The thoracic surgery service attracts national referrals for specialist complex surgery in both adults and children. Between the Royal Brompton, Harefield and Evelina sites we offer a wide range of thoracic treatments and perform in excess of 2,000 cases each year. We are the designated centre for sarcoma in London and the South East, seeing a range of metastatic, primary and chest wall disease. We have a strong record for performing VATS, and particularly, single port VATS lung resections. Since the arrival of a Da Vinci Xi robot on the Brompton site in 2025, followed by a Da Vinci 5 on the Harefield site in 2026, we have rapidly developed a busy RATS programme. We perform a large number of interventional bronchoscopies, with both rigid and fibre-optic techniques. The Thoracic Surgery Department is currently expanding in response to the forecasted activity increase following the introduction of Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC). TLHC pilot schemes are already underway offering low-dose CT scans to those assessed as high risk. It is expected that we will see stage migration with more patients diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer in our lung MDMs, this will contribute to the national ambition for 75% of cancers to be diagnosed at Stage 1 and 2 by 2028. As a result of the programme, there will be a higher proportion of patients who are suitable for curative treatment, in particular a higher number of thoracic surgery cases.

Main duties of the job

Provide High Quality Care to Patients o The post-holder must be medically qualified and maintain GMC specialist registration, hold a licence to practice and fulfill the requirements for revalidation. o To develop and maintain the competencies required to carry out the duties required of the post. o To ensure patients are involved in decisions about their care and to respond to their views. Leadership and Team Working o To demonstrate excellent leadership skills with regard to individual performance, clinical teams, the Trust and when participating in national or local initiatives. o To work collaboratively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and Kings Health Partners as required. Performance Management o To work with medical, nursing and managerial colleagues to ensure high performance in the following areas: o Clinical efficiency e.g. LOS reductions, reducing cancelled operations and DNA rates. o Quality of outcomes e.g. infection control targets, reducing re-admission rates. o Financial management e.g. identification, implementation and achievement of cost improvement programmes and participating in efforts to ensure services are provided cost effectively. o Operational efficiency e.g. waiting list activity and meeting cancer treatment targets.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING:

Essential

• Full GMC registration.
• Entry on the GMC specialist register (or within six months by the date of interview).
• FRCS CTh or equivalent qualification.

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Essential

• Comprehensive experience in both elective and emergency thoracic surgery.
• Previous appointments in recognised high quality thoracic surgery units.
• Proven competency as an independent operator in specialised techniques that will enhance the existing departmental skill set e.g. VATS lobectomy, radical surgery for mesothelioma and emergency airways management using interventional bronchoscopy and laser
• Credentialed training in robotic thoracic resections and recent clinical experience of this.
• Evidence of ability to lead a clinical team at the level of consultant.

Desirable

• Credentialed training in robotic thoracic resections.
• Paediatric thoracic surgical experience.

RESEARCH AND AUDIT:

Essential

• Proven research experience / peer reviewed publications in thoracic surgery subjects.
• Understanding of the principles and applications of clinical audit, research and medical statistics.
• Experience in academic supervision and leadership.

Desirable

• Evidence of audit activity / publications in thoracic surgery topics.

TEACHING

Essential

• Experience of undergraduate and/or postgraduate teaching and training
• Senior leadership experience in delivering and coordinating regional or above post-graduate or under- graduate surgical training

Desirable

• Evidence of quality in previous teaching (formal student feedback exercises etc.)
• Familiarity with the FRCS CTH exam curriculum.

Closing Date: 10 November 2026