Specialty Doctor in Anaesthetics

St. Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Sefton; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking an anaesthetic Speciality Doctor to provide services across the trust, including maternity and critical care units. The role includes resident on-call duties and a shift rota for out-of-hours coverage.

Based at Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals, the post involves contributing to obstetric and critical care anaesthesia, and supporting ongoing professional development within a dynamic NHS environment.

Qualifications

• Applicants must hold GMC registration at time of application.
• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification required.
• Two years' experience across specialties and anaesthetics as a trainee or equivalent competencies.

Responsibilities

• Provide anaesthetic services across trust sites.
• Supervise and educate doctors in training.
• Participate in governance, audit, quality improvement and research.

Skills

Teamwork

Commitment to CME

Clinical governance

Education

MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

Job description

Job overview

Permanent and 12 month fixed term posts available - 10PAs full time. Please enquire for further information.

Speciality Doctor posts involve providing Anaesthetic Services.

Anaesthetic services are provided for routine and emergency surgical, orthopaedic, urological, gynaecological, ENT and Ophthalmology lists, as well as to the Accident and Emergency Department, Critical Care Unit, Delivery Suite and Maternity unit, as well as the Acute and Chronic Pain Service.

• The successful candidates will need at least 2 years experience of anaesthesia and have passed basic competencies including for Obstetrics.
• Involvement may also be required in the initial resuscitation and stabilisation of the critically ill child.

Main duties of the job

• Participate as a member of the team of dedicated medical and nursing staff, to provide anaesthetic services as needed, across the trust
• Participate in the supervision and education of doctors in training, allocated to the department
• Participate in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement and research activity within the department
• Support the department in making the most efficient use of the resources available, thus be prepared to work flexibly and deputise, if appropriate, for absent colleagues and undertake additional duties in occasional emergencies or unforeseen circumstances
• Be available, exceptionally, for irregular commitments outside the normally rostered duties, which are essential for the safety and continuity of patient care.
• Be familiar with and comply with the principles expected by the GMC, as outlined in "Good Medical Practice". Thus, agree to maintain their professional responsibilities, including full and active participation in the trust appraisal process.

The post holder will be based at Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals.

The post has a resident on call duties, primarily within the maternity and critical care units, although may occasionally involve resident on-call duties for the emergency list (1st on-call).

The post includes being part of a shift rota to cover out of hours services on the ICU, and maternity units, and attracts 10 + 3.5 PA's of which 1.5 are for SPA.

Working for our organisation

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please ensure you have read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification before submitting your application.

Advertising date

17th September 2026

Closing date

27th September 2026

Shortlisting date

29th September 2026

Proposed Interview date

6th October 2026

Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Applicants must hold full registration with the GMC at the time of application
• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

• A minimum of two years' experience of a broad range of specialities
• A minimum of two years' experience of anaesthetics as a speciality trainee or has equivalent competencies
• Wide range of experience of Anaesthetics, able to demonstrate knowledge, skill and experience
• Current or recent out of hours Critical Care experience
• Current or recent out of hours Obstetric Anaesthesia experience

Desirable criteria

• Understanding of Research Concepts
• Experience of audit management

Skills

Desirable criteria

• Able to teach clinical skills

Other

Essential criteria

• Ability to work in a team
• Commitment to continuing medical education

Values

Essential criteria

• We are kind
• We are open
• We are inclusive

Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward-thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.

Given sometimes we receive a high volume of applications to work for us, please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed. Therefore, you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience. We always aim for continuous improvement in our practice.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.