Locum Consultant in Spinal Surgery: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

SBUHB seeks to appoint a Locum Consultant in Spinal Surgery to join an established team of seven consultants within the regional Spinal Surgical Unit. This is a full-time, 10-session replacement post delivering comprehensive adult spinal surgery services across SBUHB and partner organisations within the South Wales Spinal Network.

The post holder will contribute to elective and emergency spinal surgery at Morriston Hospital and NPT Hospital. Morriston Hospital serves as the regional hub for unscheduled and complex spinal surgery, while NPT Hospital delivers scheduled, non-complex elective care. The service manages a high-volume caseload, providing a broad range of open, minimally invasive, navigated, and endoscopic spinal procedures from occiput to sacrum, excluding idiopathic and syndromic deformity correction.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will deliver a high-quality, consultant-led spinal surgery service within SBUHB as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of adult spinal conditions across elective and emergency pathways.

The consultant will deliver inpatient and outpatient care including clinics, operating, ward rounds, MDT participation, and peri-operative management, primarily at Morriston Hospital for emergency and complex spinal surgery and at NPT for scheduled elective care. They will practise within their level of competence and contribute to the full range of adult spinal surgical activity.

They will participate fully in the 1:6 spinal on-call rota at Morriston Hospital and may be required to work at other sites in exceptional circumstances. The consultant will contribute to MDT decision-making and work closely with physiotherapy practitioners, nursing teams, and surgical colleagues to support effective patient flow and timely access to care.

The role includes participation in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement, and service development; adherence to GMC Good Medical Practice; involvement in education, supervision, research, and audit; leadership within the spinal service; and participation in appraisal, revalidation, and continuing professional development.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered with the GMC
• Licensed to practice
• On Specialist Register with GMC as a specialist in spinal surgery. or eligible for CCT within 6 months of date of interview and have passed exit exam or a statement of eligibility for registration issued by PMETB or a primary medical qualification and recognized specialist qualification from a European Member State which will allow direct entry to the GMC Specialist Register

Desirable

• Further relevant degree/diploma
• Teaching qualification/Higher qualification in medical education

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of an ability to develop effective working relationships, on an individual and multi-disciplinary basis with all levels of staff (“Working Together”)
• Evidence of working with management and clinical colleagues to improve a service (“Always Improving”)
• Evidence of teaching and training of post/undergraduate clinical staff
• Evidence of initiating, progressing and completing audit
• Experience of e.g. hand surgery

Desirable

• Values partnership with other agencies (“Working Together”)
• Experience of research in spinal surgery

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Effective leadership; ability to take responsibility and demonstrate leadership when appropriate
• Understands the importance of effective Team Working with all levels of staff, take time to listen, understand and involve people; receptive to appropriate change (“Working Together”)
• Understands and can apply the principles of Prudent Healthcare (“Caring for each other”)
• Excellent interpersonal skills – ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal) with patients, colleagues, relatives and staff; communicate openly and honestly and explain things clearly (“Caring for each other”)
• Understands information systems and technology

Desirable

• Demonstrates learning in Improvement science and methodology, ability and drive to use information and experience to improve the service (“Always Improving”)

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Flexible and adaptable to competing demands with the ability to work effectively under pressure and cope with setbacks
• Ability to undertake on-call
• A commitment to continuous improvement, with a positive attitude, seeks out learning, and continually develops skills and the service (“Always Improving”)
• Enthusiasm to take a lead role in clinical development
• Empathy and sensitivity: ability to listen, understand and involve people; see people as individuals

Closing Date: 12 October 2026