Spinal Deformity Senior Clinical Fellow

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust; Stanmore; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading orthopaedic hospital is seeking a Spinal Deformity Senior Clinical Fellow to enhance skills in complex spinal surgery. This role requires GMC registration and experience in spinal surgery. Key responsibilities include developing surgical knowledge, participating in multi-disciplinary meetings, and engaging in clinical research. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills and a commitment to training in spinal surgery. This position offers a dynamic environment focused on excellence in patient care.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have full registration with GMC and NTN in relevant surgical specialty.
• Experience in spinal surgery at SpR level is required.
• Research with higher degree ideally in relevant specialty preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop clinical and surgical knowledge over the fellowship year.
• Prepare for complex spinal surgery at consultant level.
• Participate in MDT meetings and clinical research.

Skills

Experience in spinal surgery

Good communication skills

Teamworking skills

Research experience

Education

Full registration with GMC

FRCS NTN in relevant surgical specialty

Job description

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust

Spinal Deformity Senior Clinical Fellow

The closing date is 05 October 2025

Spinal Deformity and Injury

Scoliosis and kyphosis in all age groups. The post has particular interest in adult degenerative scoliosis. The fellow also sees a large number of patients with myeloma/osteoporosis.

The Fellowship is designed to provide skills and competencies above and beyond what is currently required to obtain a CCT in the relevant surgical specialty. Applicants should already be experienced in Spinal Surgery, and the Fellowship offers exposure to a wide range of Degenerative, Adult Deformity surgery and paediatric deformity surgery (with specific reference to Minimal Access techniques as well as Computer Navigated Spinal Surgery). The post is based predominantly at the Stanmore site; however, the successful candidate may be expected to undertake outpatient clinics in central London at Bolsover Street outpatient department.

Applicants should either have the CCT or have undertaken 1 year Spinal fellowship or close to it.

Main duties of the job

Candidates must have Full registration with GMC, FRCS , NTN in relevant surgical speciality. Within 6 months of CCT date

He/she will be expected to develop knowledge both clinically and surgically over the year fellowship. The aim of the surgical fellowship is to prepare the successful candidate for complex spinal surgery at consultant level. The case mix of spinal surgery at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital is extensive: paediatric and adult complex spinal deformity, spinal tumours, spinal infections, low back and neck surgery and spinal trauma including osteoporotic fracture management.

The fellow will also develop sufficient knowledge and leadership in order to take a leading role as a consultant in a department dealing with complex spinal conditions and their sequel, which, with altered life style, expectations and medical advances means that spinal surgeons are expected to handle increasing complex cases. The fellow will develop the communication skills and attitudes to set them up for consultant practice in a centre of excellence to enable them to develop their skills further and train the next generation of spinal surgeons.

About us

RNOH Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust is the largest orthopaedic hospital in the UK and a global leader in our field. We provide a dynamic working environment where we support frontline staff to implement improvements so that we can realise our vision of being a world leading neuro-musculoskeletal hospital providing the best patient care and staff experience in the NHS, delivering world leading research, and offering a strong foundation of education, training and career progression. RNOH brings unrivalled expertise together in one place allowing us to deliver some of the world's most complex and innovative care to our patients. RNOH is rated good by the CQC and covers two sites, one in central London and one in Stanmore - which has recently opened The Stanmore Building, a new, state-of-the-art inpatient facility.

Job responsibilities

Our Team is tight knit and work well together, we have 14 Spinal Consultants with 2 of the Spinal consultants specialising in Neurosurgery, 4 paediatric clinical nurse specialist, 3 Adult CNS, 1 SCP and a full complement of clinical fellows and registrars there is also a set of junior surgical trainees proving day to day ward care.

Demonstration of a commitment to training in spinal surgery, good communication and team working skills are essential. Other experience in the form of audit or research is desirable

This fellowship year will provide specialist training in spinal surgery focusing on treatment of complex spinal deformities (primary and revision). The spinal fellowship is designed to provide skills and competencies above and beyond what are currently required to obtain a CCT in spinal surgery. The post will provide experience in deformity surgery. A detailed plan of work setting out the objectives of the post, success criteria and timetables for achievement of specific areas of sub-specialty interest will be set within one month of taking up the appointment, against which in-post and end-of-post monitoring and evaluation will take place.

This fellowship year will provide specialist training in the following:

• MDT administration and delivery for tertiary referrals
• Pre and post-op ward rounds
• Surgical multidisciplinary procedures
• Clinics & theatre list
• Clinical research including data collection and audit.
• Preparation of abstracts and papers for presentation and publication

If you are looking to establish a complex spinal surgical consultant practice in the next 3 years or in an independent practice as a complex spinal surgeon seeking to increase experience in complex cases.

Participation and presentation of interesting/complex cases at the weekly multi-disciplinary team meetings for spinal deformity patients. In addition to routine clinical commitments and research session the fellow may also be called upon to occasionally teach MSc students, specialist registrars and more.

Person Specification

• Full registration with GMC FRCS NTN in relevant surgical specialty Within 6 months of CCT date

Experience

• Experience in spinal surgery at SpR level.
• Already developed an interest in spinal surgery, especially spinal deformity correction surgery, including adolescent, and degenerative scoliosis.
• Some experience in spinal trauma surgery is also preferable.
• Research with higher degree ideally in relevant specialty
• Experience of MDT working
• Evidence of good written and verbal communication skills
• An understanding of the major risk factors for spinal surgery at a population level and at the level of the individual
• Awareness of specific needs of spinal injury and spinal deformity patients and their carers, issues relating to service provision for spinal surgery patients in hospital and the community
• Ability and enthusiasm to teach medical undergraduates and Allied Health Professionals
• Personal participation in audit

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.

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust