Job summary
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for detailed job description of the role.
Main duties of the job
We have an exciting opportunity available for a full time Locum consultant Spinal surgeon
ABOUT THE TEAM
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is one of the country's largest teaching hospitals. It provides specialised services to a population of over three million across the southern counties of England including the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands
We provide a wide range of specialist adult and paediatric services. We are seeking a skilled spinal surgeon to deliver high-quality complex spinal care, ensuring safe, patient-centred treatment for patients requiring both elective and emergency spinal surgery.
The Spinal Service at UHS brings together both neurosurgical and orthopaedic trained consultants, working as an integrated team to deliver spinal care and the full breadth of spinal expertise for our patients.
Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.
For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the 'Job Description and Main Responsibilities' section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached.
About us
As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated 'Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.
We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.
Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.
We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.
Job description
Job responsibilities
What youll do
This is a full-time post as a Locum Consultant Spinal Surgeon; there is the option of subspecialisation depending on the candidates area of experience and needs of the department. The essential skills required by the post holder will be in the management of the emergency patients, and ability to safely instrument all regions of the spine.
The department has separate rotas for spinal surgery, adult cranial neurosurgery, and paediatric neurosurgery. The spinal on-call team are expected to be able to initiate the management of paediatric emergency patients with ongoing support from the specialist paediatric spinal surgical team.
The purpose of this role is to deliver specialist complex spinal surgery, providing high quality elective and emergency care within the Spinal Service at UHS. You will participate in the 1:8 spinal on call rota.
Alongside advanced surgical expertise, the role requires compassion, sound clinical judgement and a collaborative approach. The service aims to foster a positive, supportive and forward looking team culture, and the post holder will contribute to shaping this environment and driving continuous improvement.
Working closely within the multidisciplinary team, the post holder will help ensure seamless patient pathways and consistently high standards of care. Through clinical leadership, service development and a commitment to patient centred practice, they will support UHS in delivering excellence in complex spinal surgery.
What were looking forYou will be fellowship trained in spinal surgery in a nationally approved fellowship. This role will develop research, clinical trials and education in spinal surgery and you will be expected to be qualified and experienced in delivering on this entire portfolio. Further details are available in the person specification.
For an overview of the position, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification document. This includes a detailed breakdown of the key responsibilities, role expectations, and the qualifications we are looking for. It outlines the essential criteria for the role and is designed to support you in preparing your application by helping you evaluate how your skills, experience, and professional background align with the requirements of the role.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONThe successful candidate will be employed under the terms and conditions of service for Consultants (England) 2003. Proposed interview date: 25th February 2026This vacancy closes on or before 11th February 2026
Job description
Job responsibilities
What youll do
This is a full-time post as a Locum Consultant Spinal Surgeon; there is the option of subspecialisation depending on the candidates area of experience and needs of the department. The essential skills required by the post holder will be in the management of the emergency patients, and ability to safely instrument all regions of the spine.
The department has separate rotas for spinal surgery, adult cranial neurosurgery, and paediatric neurosurgery. The spinal on-call team are expected to be able to initiate the management of paediatric emergency patients with ongoing support from the specialist paediatric spinal surgical team.
The purpose of this role is to deliver specialist complex spinal surgery, providing high quality elective and emergency care within the Spinal Service at UHS. You will participate in the 1:8 spinal on call rota.
Alongside advanced surgical expertise, the role requires compassion, sound clinical judgement and a collaborative approach. The service aims to foster a positive, supportive and forward looking team culture, and the post holder will contribute to shaping this environment and driving continuous improvement.
Working closely within the multidisciplinary team, the post holder will help ensure seamless patient pathways and consistently high standards of care. Through clinical leadership, service development and a commitment to patient centred practice, they will support UHS in delivering excellence in complex spinal surgery.
What were looking forYou will be fellowship trained in spinal surgery in a nationally approved fellowship. This role will develop research, clinical trials and education in spinal surgery and you will be expected to be qualified and experienced in delivering on this entire portfolio. Further details are available in the person specification.
For an overview of the position, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification document. This includes a detailed breakdown of the key responsibilities, role expectations, and the qualifications we are looking for. It outlines the essential criteria for the role and is designed to support you in preparing your application by helping you evaluate how your skills, experience, and professional background align with the requirements of the role.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONThe successful candidate will be employed under the terms and conditions of service for Consultants (England) 2003. Proposed interview date: 25th February 2026This vacancy closes on or before 11th February 2026
Person Specification
Qualifications, Training & Experience
Essential
- MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
- GMC registration with a licence to practise
- Appropriate knowledge base, and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems
- FRCS (Ortho / Neurosurgery) or equivalent
- Able to demonstrate a high level of clinical experience and competence in emergency Spinal surgery
- Able to demonstrate high level of experience in complex spinal surgery (Logbook with morbidity and mortality)
- Ability to instrument all regions of the spine
Desirable
- MSc or equivalent in Research
- In date GCP training certificate
- >/= 12/12 post-CCT Fellowship in spinal surgery
- Course on leading techniques in spinal surgery
- RCS(England) approved fellowship
- Supervising research by junior staff
- Evidence of service improvement
- Consultant level experience of elective spinal surgery
- Consultant experience of spinal on-call
- Consultant level experience of leading independent complex spinal surgery procedures
Aptitudes and skills
Essential
- Evidence and ability to work effectively in multi-professional team
- Understanding of equality and diversity and how this affects patients, visitors and staff
- Evidence and ability to communicate and liaise effectively with patients and colleagues (verbal and written communication skills in English).
- Demonstrate good organisational skills including ability to prioritise effectively and meet deadlines
- Demonstrate the ability to be calm, compassionate, and able to respond efficiently to various circumstances, which may change rapidly
- Evidence of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
Desirable
- Leadership training course
- Evidence of leadership and project management
- Evidence of having implemented change
- Formal experience in use of Shared Decision Making
- Attendance at communication skills course
- Evidence of commitment to Net Zero NHS
- Evidence of commitment to NHS Digital Transformation
- Advanced skills in information technology
Person Specification
Qualifications, Training & Experience
Essential
- MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
- GMC registration with a licence to practise
- Appropriate knowledge base, and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems
- FRCS (Ortho / Neurosurgery) or equivalent
- Able to demonstrate a high level of clinical experience and competence in emergency Spinal surgery
- Able to demonstrate high level of experience in complex spinal surgery (Logbook with morbidity and mortality)
- Ability to instrument all regions of the spine
Desirable
- MSc or equivalent in Research
- In date GCP training certificate
- >/= 12/12 post-CCT Fellowship in spinal surgery
- Course on leading techniques in spinal surgery
- RCS(England) approved fellowship
- Supervising research by junior staff
- Evidence of service improvement
- Consultant level experience of elective spinal surgery
- Consultant experience of spinal on-call
- Consultant level experience of leading independent complex spinal surgery procedures
Aptitudes and skills
Essential
- Evidence and ability to work effectively in multi-professional team
- Understanding of equality and diversity and how this affects patients, visitors and staff
- Evidence and ability to communicate and liaise effectively with patients and colleagues (verbal and written communication skills in English).
- Demonstrate good organisational skills including ability to prioritise effectively and meet deadlines
- Demonstrate the ability to be calm, compassionate, and able to respond efficiently to various circumstances, which may change rapidly
- Evidence of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
Desirable
- Leadership training course
- Evidence of leadership and project management
- Evidence of having implemented change
- Formal experience in use of Shared Decision Making
- Attendance at communication skills course
- Evidence of commitment to Net Zero NHS
- Evidence of commitment to NHS Digital Transformation
- Advanced skills in information technology
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.
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).
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.
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).
