Consultant - Upper GI and General Surgery | West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust; Watford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health trust in Watford seeks a locum Upper GI consultant to aid in the development of its bariatric surgery service. The role requires a fellowship in Upper GI surgery and consultant-level experience in robotic surgery. Responsibilities include contributing to the teaching of medical students, participating in clinical governance, and managing on-call services. This position offers support for personal development within a flexible working environment.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Support for staff wellbeing and development

Opportunity for leadership roles

Qualifications

• Should possess a fellowship in Upper GI surgery and consultant-level experience in robotic surgery.
• Experience in running hot laparoscopic cholecystectomy services is mandatory.
• Candidates should participate in governance activities and committees.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to teaching medical students and trainee doctors.
• Participate in audit and governance meetings.
• Attend departmental Consultant meetings and contribute to surgical on-call rota.

Skills

Fellowship in Upper GI surgery

Consultant-level experience in robotic surgery

Experience with hot laparoscopic cholecystectomies

Quality improvement project experience

Education

Medical degree and upper GI surgical fellowship

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Upper GI with a growing complex robotic and laparoscopic biliary and upper GI hiatal surgery practice, and with the opportunity to help with the development of the local bariatric surgery service. This post is a locum appointment, with a plan and funding in place to recruit to a substantive post subsequently.

The trust has developed a multi-platform robotic centre with both CMR and da Vinci systems. Our vision is to develop a regional robotic and training centre for Upper GI together with the already established colorectal and gynaecology teams. As such, both a fellowship in Upper GI surgery and consultant-level experience in robotic surgery is mandatory. Mentoring will be provided for elective and emergency work to ensure the new consultants have full support to fulfil their potential.

We operate an established hot laparoscopic cholecystectomy service for emergency patients, and any appointee would be expected to participate in this service and have experience of hot laparoscopic cholecystectomies.

The candidate will be expected to assist the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust in achieving its commitments to the National Plan for modernisation of the NHS, including achieving the 18-week patient pathway. On the general side, the trust’s Acute Assessment Unit is one of the largest in the country with comprehensive diagnostic facilities.

The appointee will contribute to the teaching of medical students and trainee doctors and to participate in audit, governance and training meetings.

Clinical governance is assuming an ever-greater importance within the NHS and there is strong emphasis on this area within WHHT. The appointee will be expected to contribute and participate in governance activities in depth and breadth. The appointee will attend departmental Consultant meetings.

The appointee will have an overriding duty of care to patients and is expected to comply fully with best practice standards.

There are monthly departmental meetings. In addition, there are a number of leadership roles which we would encourage all consultants to take on. There are Trust-wide lead and managerial roles which are advertised amongst the consultant body. The appointee should have had experience with quality improvement projects to support the department.

There is a monthly clinical governance program that two of the consultants organise. Local Audits, research and other presentations make this a very useful session.

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are building on the success of our award‑winning virtual hospital and re‑imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking

If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contact [e-mail]

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

The new appointee will be enrolled in the 1:12 (2/2/3) general surgical on-call rota with support from a separate colorectal emergency service rota.

A full‑time appointment with 10 Programmed Activities (PA’s) is available which includes 1.5 PA’s of Supporting Activities (SPA’s) and 1.5 PA’s for General Surgery on-call.

The Job Plan will be discussed and agreed on appointment and is subject to annual review. All job plans will be agreed between the Trust and the successful candidates and will be reviewed on an annual basis.

The appointee will be expected to fully contribute to the administrative, teaching and research activities within the department. All consultants represent the department on various committees within the Trust as well as taking responsibility for delegated areas according to their interests and availability.

This advert closes on Saturday 3 Jan 2026.