Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Locum Consultant in Emergency Medicine

The closing date is 15 March 2026

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated Locum Consultant in Emergency Medicine to join our hard working and dedicated team at an exciting time of change and improvement. The successful Applicant will be part of a team of Consultants with a maximum 1 in 8 on call frequency.

The Emergency Department currently manages approximately 55,000 patients per year, and the footprint doubled in size at the onset of the pandemic. We were awarded £15m to refurbish the enlarged department to a very high standard and this work was completed in 2022.

In addition, we have funding for a £79m newbuild ED and ICU. Building work on this is actively ongoing and we expect the new department to open in 2027-28, with this and the current footprint forming an 'Emergency Zone' to bring specialty teams and SDEC near to the front door. There will be a dedicated area in the ED for paediatrics. The hospital is also looking to develop its own onsite UTC (urgent treatment centre) which will allow appropriate streaming away from the ED whilst providing excellent educational opportunities for resident doctors regarding minor injuries/illness. This all offers exciting opportunities for collaborative and seamless working across Urgent and Emergency Care.

Other staffing includes 12 WTE middle grade doctors, including 2 HSTs, and 18 Resident doctors and 8 ANPs/ACPs. The nursing team is led by 1 Matron, 4 Clinical Band 7s and 12 Band 6s.

Proposed interview date TBC

Main duties of the job

The department is proactive in the management of critical illness, and major trauma, which is consultant led. The EM Consultants currently support the 24/7 stroke thrombolysis rota with Physician colleagues. Primary PCI is offered by our cardiologists in hours as part of the pan Dorset Network Service.

Dorset County is a trauma unit in the Wessex Major Trauma Network. The geographical location of the hospital is such that the ambulance services often cannot bypass our unit in favour of the Major Trauma Centre. The onsite helipad receives patients from the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and the HM Coastguard Search & Rescue Service (although this is currently in a secondary landing site during the ongoing building works).

The successful candidate will be expected to provide excellent clinical leadership as well as to deliver an excellent standard of direct clinical care. Teaching and training is delivered both within the department and in a dedicated Education Centre which has its own sim-suite. We actively encourage all staff to participate in audit, research and teaching.

Applicants are invited to visit the department by prior appointment and meet the team before an application for the position. Alternatively, applicants are invited to contact our Clinical Lead Dr David Markham for an informal chat (David.Markham@dchft.nhs.uk).

About us

At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff

Our Mission is to provide outstanding care for people in ways which matter to them, and our vision is Dorset County Hospital, working with our health and social care partners, will be at the heart of improving the well-being of our communities.

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.

We understand that some applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing their application materials. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind candidates that all submissions must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experiences and suitability for this role.

Personal integrity and authenticity are central to our recruitment process. We value honesty and appreciate applications that are genuine and representative of the individual behind them.

Details

Date posted

27 February 2026

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

£109,725 to £145,478 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

405-MD2610EMLC

Job locations

Dorset County Hospital

Williams Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at Recruitment.Medical@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at Recruitment.Medical@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Person Specification

Understanding and Participation

Essential

  • Evidence of understanding of clinical governance. Knowledge of and direct involvement in audit. Knowledge of principles of research and evidence of involvement in research

Team Working and Service Development

Essential

  • Evidence of recent collaborative working in a service development or improvement

Current Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

Essential

  • Willingness and ability to fulfill the general service elements of the job description
  • Evidence of the clinical skills required to fulfil the specialty elements of the job as in the job description and technical specification

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of the ability to manage the demands of being a DGH based consultant in Emergency Medicine
  • Experience of working within the NHS

Education, Qualifications & Tr

Essential

  • Full GMC Registration with a licence to practise
  • Higher UK clinical qualification FRCEM or equivalent

Management Training, Organisational Skills and Strategic Vision

Essential

  • Evidence of general management training and skills appropriate for the post. Evidence of ability to contribute to the strategic direction of the Trust. Knowledge of organisational aspects of the NHS

Teaching and communication

Essential

  • Evidence of teaching experience

Management Training, Organisational Skills and Strategic Vision

Essential

  • Evidence of management experience
Person Specification

Understanding and Participation

Essential

  • Evidence of understanding of clinical governance. Knowledge of and direct involvement in audit. Knowledge of principles of research and evidence of involvement in research

Team Working and Service Development

Essential

  • Evidence of recent collaborative working in a service development or improvement

Current Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

Essential

  • Willingness and ability to fulfill the general service elements of the job description
  • Evidence of the clinical skills required to fulfil the specialty elements of the job as in the job description and technical specification

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of the ability to manage the demands of being a DGH based consultant in Emergency Medicine
  • Experience of working within the NHS

Education, Qualifications & Tr

Essential

  • Full GMC Registration with a licence to practise
  • Higher UK clinical qualification FRCEM or equivalent

Management Training, Organisational Skills and Strategic Vision

Essential

  • Evidence of general management training and skills appropriate for the post. Evidence of ability to contribute to the strategic direction of the Trust. Knowledge of organisational aspects of the NHS

Teaching and communication

Essential

  • Evidence of teaching experience

Management Training, Organisational Skills and Strategic Vision

Essential

  • Evidence of management experience

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 (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.

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 (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).

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dorset County Hospital

Williams Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Employer's website

https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dorset County Hospital

Williams Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Employer's website

https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

ED Lead Consultant

Dr David Markham

David.Markham@dchft.nhs.uk

01305255802

Details

Date posted

27 February 2026

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

£109,725 to £145,478 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

405-MD2610EMLC

Job locations

Dorset County Hospital

Williams Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)