Job summary
Working Full time: 40 hours per week

This post was created to improve the quality of anaesthetic care. The successful candidate will be expected to integrate within the team of existing anaesthetists in order to provide a complete anaesthetic service. There are many areas where the successful applicant could expand their clinical experience including: regional anaesthesia, vascular anaesthesia, obstetrics, and critical care along with the usual spectrum of clinical activity found in a district general hospital.

Main duties of the job
The main duties of the job are outlined in the job description. The post would comprise a 48-hour working week to include a 1:8 full shift on call rota which would be either 1st (Emergency Theatre), 2nd (Intensive Care Airway Rota) or 3rd (Maternity) on call.

About us
The Trust's services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery.

Details
Date posted: 19 October 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Doctor - other
Salary: £67,325 to £77,348 a year pa
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 210-2026-758
Closing date: 27 October 2026

Person Specification
Essential qualifications

• GMC registration with a licence to practice.
• Minimum 18 months of anaesthetic training.

Desirable qualifications

• Primary FRCA, full FRCA or International equivalent.

Essential knowledge and experience

• Evidence of stage 1 (or equivalent) competencies in regional anaesthesia.
• Attendance at educational meetings and achievement of CPD.
• Evidence of having participated in audit or research.

Desirable knowledge and experience

• Evidence of some more advanced skills in regional anaesthesia such as use of ultrasound for some blocks.
• Evidence of having presented at regional or national meetings.

Essential skills and abilities

• Good team working and good interpersonal skills.

Desirable skills and abilities

• Evidence of ability to teach and train others.
• Has completed initial assessment of obstetric anaesthetic competencies (or equivalent).
• Has had 6 months post foundation experience working on an Intensive Care.

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. The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Countess of Chester Hospital, Liverpool Road, Chester, CH2 1UL, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Contact for questions about the job
Clinical Lead for Anaesthesia: Iestyn Harrod, iestyn.harrod@nhs.net, 01244365461

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application.