Job summary
The Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Musgrove Park Hospital offers a unique opportunity to practice high-quality emergency care in a supportive, forward-thinking environment that prioritizes sustainability, flexibility, and professional growth. Based in Taunton, Somerset, this role provides consultants with a balanced approach to work and life--featuring annualised rotas, and strong support for less-than-full-time and portfolio careers.
In this post, consultants will lead the delivery of emergency care, supervise and train junior doctors and advanced practitioners, and play an active role in clinical governance and teaching. With access to a wide range of specialties and strong links to trauma networks, the role offers both challenge and variety in clinical practice.
The Trust encourages the pursuit of special interests, including paediatrics, education, and research, with dedicated Supporting Professional Activity (SPA) time protected for professional development. New consultants benefit from a strong mentoring culture, while all colleagues are supported in developing their careers through CPD, leadership opportunities, and research engagement.
Specialist registration with the GMC is essential for this locum consultant role, under local organisational arrangements. Where you do not hold GMC specialist registration, and you are not pending a CCT /ARCP/CESR outcome to obtain, the role will be converted to the Specialist contract, pay and national terms & conditions set by NHS Employers.
Main duties of the job
As a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Musgrove Park Hospital, you will play a pivotal role in delivering safe, timely, and effective care to patients across the full spectrum of emergency presentations. Working as a senior decision-maker on the shop floor, you will provide consultant-led leadership that ensures high standards of clinical practice, patient safety, and compassionate care. Your presence and guidance will be central to supporting colleagues in managing complex and challenging cases, often requiring rapid analysis, prioritisation, and decision-making under pressure.
In addition to direct patient care, you will be a mentor, educator, and role model for doctors in training, advanced clinical practitioners, and nursing staff. You will provide day-to-day supervision, feedback, and teaching in the clinical environment, while also contributing to structured departmental education and training programmes. Your commitment to developing the next generation of emergency medicine professionals will strengthen both individual careers and the wider specialty.
Beyond the shop floor, you will contribute actively to the governance, audit, and quality improvement processes that underpin safe and progressive practice. You will engage in clinical governance meetings, participate in service evaluation, and help to implement new pathways and models of care.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Musgrove Park Hospital, you will provide consultant-led clinical care in a busy and well-supported Emergency Department, ensuring safe and effective management of patients across the full spectrum of emergency presentations. You will lead on the shop floor, supervise junior doctors, advanced practitioners and nursing colleagues, and act as a senior decision-maker in complex and high-pressure situations.
Alongside clinical duties, you will play a key role in education, training, and mentoring, helping to develop the next generation of emergency medicine professionals. You will contribute to governance, audit, and service improvement, and will be encouraged to pursue special interests such as paediatrics, trauma, education, or research, with protected time for professional development.
As part of the consultant body, you will also support departmental leadership, service planning, and workforce development, helping to shape the future of emergency care within Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The role is structured with sustainability and flexibility in mind, offering annualised rotas, less-than-full-time options, and no on-site shifts past midnight, ensuring a fulfilling career alongside a balanced lifestyle.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Musgrove Park Hospital, you will provide consultant-led clinical care in a busy and well-supported Emergency Department, ensuring safe and effective management of patients across the full spectrum of emergency presentations. You will lead on the shop floor, supervise junior doctors, advanced practitioners and nursing colleagues, and act as a senior decision-maker in complex and high-pressure situations.
Alongside clinical duties, you will play a key role in education, training, and mentoring, helping to develop the next generation of emergency medicine professionals. You will contribute to governance, audit, and service improvement, and will be encouraged to pursue special interests such as paediatrics, trauma, education, or research, with protected time for professional development.
As part of the consultant body, you will also support departmental leadership, service planning, and workforce development, helping to shape the future of emergency care within Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The role is structured with sustainability and flexibility in mind, offering annualised rotas, less-than-full-time options, and no on-site shifts past midnight, ensuring a fulfilling career alongside a balanced lifestyle.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Medical degree (MBBS or equivalent)
- FRCEM (Fellowship of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine)
- Eligibility for entry onto the GMC Specialist Register via:
- CCT (with CCT date within six months of interview), or
- CESR (submission of portfolio evidence to GMC)
- Current life support certifications, such as:
- ATLS/ETC (trauma)
- EPLS/APLS (paediatrics)
- ALS (advanced life support)
- Extensive clinical experience in Emergency Medicine
- Strong leadership, teaching, and communication skills
- Proven experience in service development and clinical governance
- Ability to analyse, diagnose, and prioritise effectively in high-pressure situations
Experience
Essential
- Additional training or qualifications in Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM)
- Evidence of participation in research projects within the past two years
- Experience in teaching medical students and doctors in training
- General management training and involvement in leadership, recruitment, or service improvement
- Familiarity with quality improvement, change management, and strategic planning
- Ability to contribute to wider system-level management across urgent and emergency care pathways
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Medical degree (MBBS or equivalent)
- FRCEM (Fellowship of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine)
- Eligibility for entry onto the GMC Specialist Register via:
- CCT (with CCT date within six months of interview), or
- CESR (submission of portfolio evidence to GMC)
- Current life support certifications, such as:
- ATLS/ETC (trauma)
- EPLS/APLS (paediatrics)
- ALS (advanced life support)
- Extensive clinical experience in Emergency Medicine
- Strong leadership, teaching, and communication skills
- Proven experience in service development and clinical governance
- Ability to analyse, diagnose, and prioritise effectively in high-pressure situations
Experience
Essential
- Additional training or qualifications in Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM)
- Evidence of participation in research projects within the past two years
- Experience in teaching medical students and doctors in training
- General management training and involvement in leadership, recruitment, or service improvement
- Familiarity with quality improvement, change management, and strategic planning
- Ability to contribute to wider system-level management across urgent and emergency care pathways
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
