Trust Doctor General Surgery

NHS; Barnstaple; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Barnstaple is seeking a Trust Service Doctor specializing in General Surgery. The successful candidate will work within an exceptional team, managing both elective and emergency surgical procedures. This fixed-term contract runs from March 30, 2026, to September 30, 2026, with opportunities for teaching and training. The position emphasizes advanced laparoscopic skills and involvement in a recognized center of excellence for surgical care.

Benefits

27 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days

Comprehensive occupational health services

Flexible working and family-friendly policies

Staff discounts on shopping and leisure

Salary sacrifice schemes

NHS Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Active participation in an exceptional team for patient health.
• Experience in elective and emergency surgeries.
• Involvement in teaching, training, and research.

Responsibilities

• Manage a range of elective and emergency benign UGI conditions.
• Conduct advanced laparoscopic surgeries.
• Participate in a weekly MDT for inflammatory bowel disease.

Job description

Trust Service Doctor (General Surgery Upper and Lower GI)

The closing date is 30 January 2026.

Applications are invited for the post of Trust Service Doctor (ST3+) in General Surgery at North Devon District Hospital. This is a fixed‑term contract beginning 30 March 2026 and ending 30 September 2026, subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks.

Main duties of the job

As a key member of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, you will be part of an exceptional team working to help patients stay healthy when they need it most. The Upper GI unit manages a range of elective and emergency benign UGI conditions and offers advanced laparoscopic skills including bile duct exploration, anti‑reflux and hiatal surgery and hernia repair. The Lower GI unit manages elective and emergency LGI conditions for both benign and malignant disease. Enhanced recovery and laparoscopic interventions are performed wherever possible.

The department provides a daily handover service for colorectal conditions, meaning most obstructing cancers are dealt with by the colorectal service. Inflammatory bowel disease is managed in partnership with gastroenterologists, with a weekly MDT held. The unit is an internationally‑recognised centre of excellence for complex incisional hernias and a nationally recognised centre of excellence for chronic post‑operative inguinal pain.

The department has Deanery Registrars, Fellows, Core Trainees and F1 Doctors rotating within their Peninsula Training Programmes. There are ample opportunities for teaching, training, research and national clinical audit.

About us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services serve more than 615,000 people across over 2,000 square miles. We deliver emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). We provide integrated health and social care services in various settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics and home care. We also offer primary care, specialist community services and Sexual Assault Referral Centres.

Our state‑of‑the‑art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovation, enabling world‑class care.

It has never been more exciting to join the Royal Devon as you help shape our services along our integration journey.

Working pattern

40 hours a week.

Contact and Further Information

For further information, contact Keeley Cooper (Senior Operations Manager) at 5771, [e-mail] or Iea Alabbassi at [e-mail].

Benefits

We value diversity and offer flexible working, family‑friendly policies, 27 days paid annual leave increasing to 33 days, comprehensive occupational health services, staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure, technology and appliance purchase schemes, Blue Light Card discounts, salary sacrifice schemes, nursery onsite, car lease schemes, and the NHS Pension scheme. A cycle‑to‑work scheme is also available.

Preference will be given to staff with Priority and 'At Risk' status, including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team, including funding for a care certificate, degree or leadership qualifications, or days off for study, CPD or rotational placements.

Looking after you is important to us.

Person Specification

1. See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description.
2. See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission of Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Employer name

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust