Locum Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Leeds; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Leeds is seeking a locum Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care for a 10 PA appointment. This role involves managing critically ill children, engaging in a 1:9 on-call rota, and contributing to clinical research. Essential qualifications include membership of a relevant Royal College and GMC registration. The post will be available from January 2026 for six months.

Qualifications

• Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics or Anaesthetists or equivalent.
• Completion of sub-speciality training in Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine.
• Eligible for full registration with the GMC.

Responsibilities

• Deliver care to critically ill children including acute on-call.
• Manage general medical and surgical cardiac patients.
• Contribute to research and new developments within the PICU.

Skills

High level clinical experience with critically ill children

Specialist training in paediatric intensive care

Effective interpersonal skills

Good time management

Education

Membership Examination of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Relevant higher degree (PhD, MD)

Job description

Job Summary

This is a 10 PA locum appointment for a Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care. The post will be available from January 2026 for a period of six months and will be based at Leeds General Infirmary. The successful applicant must hold membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health or the Royal College of Anaesthetists (or equivalent) and be on the Specialist Register or within six months of admission to the Register. The post supports the PICU team and includes a 1:9 on‑call rota.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver care to critically ill children, including involvement in ‘First on’ (lead), ‘Second on’ (support) and ‘Third on’ (HDU) roles.
• Manage general medical patients, medical and surgical cardiac patients, patients on Extracorporeal Life Support, and specialist surgical patients (neurosurgery, spinal surgery, liver transplant and renal transplant).
• Familiarise with equipment, operational policies and staffing levels/competencies.
• Liaise with Embrace and DGH colleagues regarding admission of time‑critical and other referrals.
• Contribute to PCCU department and governance meetings and engage with hospital‑wide and other speciality meetings.
• Deliver acute on‑call (currently 1:9) which includes ward rounds, unit management during normal working hours and regular out‑of‑hours commitment.
• Collaborate with consultant colleagues in PCCU and link with specialist teams across the Children’s Hospital, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and district general hospitals.
• Contribute to research, teaching and new developments within the PICU and facilitate the current clinical research programme.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• High level clinical experience and competence in managing critically ill children and congenital heart disease.
• Specialist training in paediatric intensive care including paediatric cardiac intensive care and extracorporeal life support.
• Higher professional training in paediatrics, anaesthesia or other related speciality.
• Level 2 Child Protection training.
• Evidence of continuous career progression consistent with personal circumstances.
• Completed sub‑speciality training for two years in a rotation approved for training in Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine or equivalent.
• Experience training undergraduate medical students and postgraduate doctors.
• Experience participating in regular clinical audit and understanding current NHS issues.
• Well‑organised, good time management, effective interpersonal skills and ability to work within a team.
• Medically fit to fulfil all aspects of the post and meet professional health requirements (GMC standards).

Desirable Experience

• Echocardiography or bronchoscopy skills.
• Attendance on appraisal techniques and small group teaching workshops.
• Attendance at a recognised management course.

Eligibility and Fitness to Practice

• Eligible for full registration with the GMC at time of appointment and hold a current licence to practice.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.
• Fitness to practice up to date and fit to practise safely.
• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, meeting minimum score criteria (IELTS 7.5 or OET B).

Additional Criteria

• Hold full GMC registration with a licence to practice.
• Entry on the GMC Specialist Register via CCT (proposed CCT date within six months of interview), CESR or European Community Rights.

Qualifications

• Membership Examination of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health or Royal College of Anaesthetists or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
• Relevant higher degree (PhD, MD) desirable.

About the PICU

The PICU is the regional lead centre within Leeds Children’s Hospital at Leeds General Infirmary. The unit admits about 750 patients a year, with approximately 150 retrieved from local district general hospitals via Embrace, the regional paediatric and neonatal retrieval service. The unit supports a wide spectrum of services, including cardiac and neurosurgery, and collaborates closely with tertiary specialities such as haematology, oncology, bone marrow transplant, hepatology (liver transplantation), and nephrology. A separate HDU admits around 400 surgical and medical patients annually.