Job summary
The Cardiff Spinal Unit has been established for over 20 years. In 2011, the Welsh Centre for Spinal Trauma and Surgery opened at the UHW site. There are currently 10 Consultant Spinal Surgeons (8 Orthopaedic and 2 Neurosurgical), 4 Senior Spinal Fellows, 2 Junior Spinal Fellows, 2 Specialist Registrars, 2 Junior Clinical Fellows, 2 Foundation Year 1 doctors and 2 Clinical Nurse Specialists. It is an established renowned centre of excellence performing all aspects of Spinal Surgery in the capital city of Wales, UK. It is an AO Spine Centre.

The Unit performs on an annual basis: Elective spinal operations >600, Emergency spinal operations 200, Paediatric spinal operations >120, Spinal Injections >500, Spinal Outpatient appointments 5500. Over the years the unit has trained over 80 Fellows who have become Consultants around the world. The team of Consultants comprise internationally recognized trainers, senior lecturers and faculty of our governing bodies. The unit has become the Major Trauma Centre in Wales and has seen a large influx of spinal trauma cases. The unit has a standalone spinal outpatient clinic with radiological support and a spinal injection suite. There has been recent investment in endoscopic spinal surgery. The unit plans to invest in spinal navigation systems / robotics and as part of the MTC the hospital is investing in 3D C-Arm systems.The NHS in Wales has established a National Robotics Program for Surgery.

Main duties of the job
Clinical
You will provide with senior colleagues (as appropriate) a service in the speciality to the hospitals so designated, with responsibility for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness and promotion of health.

You will be expected to help in teaching aspects of diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases to junior medical staff and nursing staff.

You will be expected to participate in the senior spinal on-call rota appropriate to competence and agreed scope of practice, with Consultant support arrangements as required. This consists of a week on call 1 in 7 (See timetable below).

The post holder will practise with a high degree of clinical autonomy within agreed competencies, scope of practice, and local governance frameworks, working collaboratively with Consultant colleagues.

Any other duties with other agencies that have been agreed with the employing Health Board.

About us
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 17,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving over 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone, delivering excellent care and support.

Our mission is "Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together", and our vision is that every person's chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. Our 10-year transformation and improvement strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, is our chance to work collaboratively with the public and our workforce to make our health board more sustainable for the future.

Details
Date posted: 14 July 2026
Closing date: 17 July 2026
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: £104,401 to £115,343 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 001-MP117.26-A

Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Full GMC / GDC registration with a licence to practise

Desirable

• Academic excellence

Experience
Essential

• 12 years' postgraduate medical / dental work including a minimum of 6 years within the specialty at Specialty Doctor / SAS grade level or equivalent (overseas experience to be assessed in individual cases)
• Evidence of senior autonomous spinal surgical practice in a tertiary referral centre / major trauma centre environment.

Audit
Essential

• Evidence of participation in clinical audit and understanding role of audit in improving medical practice
• Understanding of clinical risk management and clinical governance
• Evidence of engagement with revalidation

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Flexible approach
• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues
• Values aligned to those of the Health Board

Other Requirements
Essential

• Computing skills
• Commitment to participating in and understanding of the management process
• Satisfactory Immigration Status
• Satisfactory Health Clearance
• Satisfactory Disclosure Check

Desirable

• Evidence of management training

Professional Values & Behaviours, Skills and Knowledge
Essential

• Practises with the professional values and behaviours expected of all doctors as set out in GMC Good Medical Practice and the Generic Professional Capabilities Framework (or equivalent for dentists)
• Demonstrates the underpinning subject-specific competences i.e. knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to the role setting and scope
• Clinically evaluates and manages a patient, formulating a prioritised differential diagnosis, initiating an appropriate management plan, and reviewing and adjusting this depending on the outcomes of treatment

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: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Address: University of Hospital of Wales, Heath Park Way, Cardiff, CF14 4XW, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://cavuhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)

For questions about the job, contact:
Spinal Surgeon Mike Mccarthy
mike.mccarthy@wales.nhs.uk
02920748010