Consultant Plastic Surgeon - Reconstructive Micro SurgeryNHS

Job summary

We are seeking to appoint a Consultant Plastic Surgeon with a Special Interest in Reconstructive Microsurgery to join the Plastic Surgery team at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

This is a substantive 10 PA post supporting the Trust's microsurgery and complex reconstructive service. The successful candidate will contribute to a broad range of reconstructive surgery, with a particular focus on lower limb trauma and reconstruction, alongside breast reconstruction and other complex microvascular reconstructive surgery.

St George's is a Major Trauma Centre and the post offers an opportunity to work closely with Trauma and Orthopaedic colleagues in the multidisciplinary management of complex lower limb trauma, from early assessment and reconstructive planning through to definitive soft-tissue and microvascular reconstruction. The post holder will also contribute to the established breast reconstruction service and other complex reconstructive pathways according to service need and their expertise.

The successful candidate will join a large tertiary Plastic Surgery department providing specialist services across Southwest London and Surrey and will be expected to contribute to the department's clinical, teaching, training, governance and service-development activities.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide a comprehensive microsurgical and reconstructive Plastic Surgery service, working as part of a multidisciplinary team across elective and emergency pathways.

A significant component of the role will be the management of complex lower limb trauma and reconstruction, working closely with Trauma and Orthopaedic colleagues and the wider Major Trauma service. This will include assessment and reconstructive planning, soft-tissue reconstruction and microvascular free tissue transfer where clinically appropriate.

The post holder will also contribute to the breast reconstruction service, including immediate and delayed reconstruction and microvascular free-flap reconstruction, and to other areas of complex reconstruction including abdominal wall, perineal and other microvascular surgery.

The role also includes participation in the Plastic Surgery emergency workload, Consultant of the Week arrangements and on-call service, alongside responsibility for teaching and supervision of resident doctors and medical students. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute actively to clinical governance, audit, research, quality improvement and the continued development of the Plastic Surgery reconstructive service.

Job description

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Provide a comprehensive microsurgical and complex reconstructive Plastic Surgery service, with particular emphasis on lower limb trauma and reconstruction and breast reconstruction.
• Work closely with Trauma and Orthopaedic colleagues in the assessment, planning and management of patients requiring complex lower limb reconstruction, including patients presenting through the Major Trauma Centre.
• Undertake operative management of complex lower limb trauma, including soft-tissue reconstruction and microvascular free tissue transfer where appropriate.
• Contribute to the breast reconstruction service, including immediate and delayed reconstruction and microvascular free-flap reconstruction, working collaboratively with Breast Surgery and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Contribute to abdominal wall, perineal and other complex microvascular reconstruction according to service requirements and individual expertise.
• Participate in relevant multidisciplinary meetings and promote effective working across Plastic Surgery, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Breast Surgery and other specialties.
• Participate in the Plastic Surgery emergency workload and be competent in the assessment and management of adult and paediatric Plastic Surgery and hand trauma.
• Participate in the Trauma Consultant of the Week model, currently approximately four times per year, providing ward rounds, trauma management and supervision of the resident doctor team.
• Participate in the consultant on-call rota and provide appropriate internal cover with consultant colleagues.
• Maintain continuing responsibility for patients under their care, including the associated clinical and administrative responsibilities.
• Contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and the training, supervision and development of resident doctors and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Participate in clinical governance, audit, research, service evaluation and quality-improvement activity.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the microsurgery and reconstructive service, including improving the quality, safety and effectiveness of multidisciplinary reconstructive pathways.
• Participate in annual appraisal, revalidation, continuing professional development and job planning and maintain the professional knowledge, skills and registration required for the role.
• Work with consultant colleagues and service management to support the effective management, performance and development of the Plastic Surgery service.
• Work in accordance with GMC Good Medical Practice and all relevant Trust policies and professional standards.

These responsibilities reflect the more detailed expectations within the JD, including clinical care, governance, CPD, management and teaching responsibilities.

About us

St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey.Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.