Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Paediatric Cardiac Surgery team at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, one of the UK's longest-established congenital cardiac surgical centres.

The Cardiac programme has continued to grow since its move from the Bristol Royal Infirmary in 1995 and, in 2024, delivered 411 operations for congenital heart disease across paediatric and adult patients.

The service manages the full spectrum of congenital heart conditions (excluding cardiac transplantation) and provides seamless care for adolescents and adults through close collaboration with the Bristol Heart Institute.

Postoperative care is delivered on the Paediatric Intensive Care Units, with the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit serving as the tertiary centre for the South West and offering advanced therapies including HFOV, nitric oxide, neonatal and paediatric post-cardiotomy ECMO, peritoneal dialysis, and haemofiltration.

Main duties of the job
This full-time 1 WTE post forms part of the registrar rota in Congenital Cardiac Surgery and offers a high-quality training environment within a small, supportive team of consultants, a rotating specialist trainee, and four fellows.

The role is designed for a senior cardiac surgical trainee intending to pursue a career in congenital cardiac surgery, ideally with an academic component.

Applicants are expected to have completed adult cardiac surgical training and hold FRCS or equivalent, along with at least two years of dedicated congenital cardiac surgical experience.

The post includes involvement in pre-operative assessment, intra-operative participation aligned to experience, and post-operative management, with the fellow acting as first on-call for postoperative patients.

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of 2.6 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom.

Chaired by Ingrid Barker and led by Maria Kane as Chief Executive, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust aims to transform the way healthcare is delivered locally with a clear focus on making a difference for what we call our Four Ps:

• Better outcomes for our Patients
• More opportunities for our People
• Fairer more consistent care for our Population
• Best Value for Public Purse

Our vision for five years from now:

• Patients will wait less time to be diagnosed and treated, and they will have the same high-quality experience and outcomes, regardless of who they are or where they live.
• We will meet rising demand by maximising the use of our available resources.
• More care will be delivered nearer to patients, in their homes or the community.
• Digital technologies will have transformed the way we work and the way we deliver care.
• Our people will feel engaged, energised and empowered by their work.
• We will be known as a place where people enjoy working, training and building a career.
• Our volume of globally renowned research and innovation will have grown significantly.
• We will contribute to system financial balance

Details
Date posted: 15 September 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Doctor - other
Salary: £67,325 to £77,348 a year pa pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 387-WC5230-KL
Job locations: Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Upper Maudlin St, Bristol, BS2 8BJ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Personal Specification for further details. Please contact on the information below if you have any questions.

Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Full GMC registration with license to practice.
• At least 3 years' experience in cardiac surgery.
• Up to date with Paediatric Life Support.
• At least 2 years experience in congenital cardiac surgery.
• FRCS or equivalent.

Desirable

• Previous NHS experience.
• Research productivity.

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Ability to organise and prioritise workload
• Skills and experience commensurate with a Specialist Registrar in Cardiac Surgery.
• Good communication skills
• Honesty and reliability
• Ability to work effectively within an MDT environment
• Flexibility
• Critical approach to work
• Demonstrates initiative
• Ability to gain confidence of both staff and patients
• Willing to undertake additional clinical duties when necessary, including cover for colleagues on leave

Desirable

• Database management.

Qualifications and Training
Essential

• Registered with GMC
• Undergraduate medical degree
• Post grad qualification in Paediatrics
• English language competency (IELTS/OET)
• MRCS or equivalent
• FRCS

Desirable

• MRCPCH

Additional & Aptitudes
Essential

• IT skills on all Microsoft packages
• Fluent English speaker
• Respecting everyone
• Embracing change
• Recognising success
• Working together
• Flexibility
• Pleasant manner with children, parents, nurses and colleagues

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Upper Maudlin St, Bristol, BS2 8BJ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
General Manager
Megan O'Brien
Megan.O'Brien@uhbw.nhs.uk

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.