Job summary
Our busy Local Neonatal Unit (LNU) consists of 28 cots, including 12 intensive care and high-dependency cots. With over 5500 deliveries a year and more than 1000 respiratory care days, we are categorised as a 'high activity LNU'. The unit is supported by a dedicated multidisciplinary team comprising seven Consultant Neonatologists, two Neonatal Nurse Consultants, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (ANNPs), junior medical staff and allied healthcare professionals. We are proud to maintain separate neonatal and paediatric rotas across all three tiers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ensuring dedicated neonatal consultant leadership. The successful candidate will contribute solely to the neonatal consultant rota and will not be required to participate in the acute general paediatric consultant rota. We also have a separate Transitional care (TC) unit located on the maternity ward, where babies are cared for by neonatal staff alongside their mothers receiving postnatal care by midwifery staff. The unit has two dedicated consultants during weekdays, with consultant 1 covering the ITU between 0900 - 1700 and consultant 2 covering TC +/- SCBU between 0900 - 1700 on some days, and 0900 - 1300 on others. During weekends, a neonatal consultant is present on site between 0900 - 1400 to lead ward rounds as well as to support junior medical staff.

Main duties of the job
We are seeking to appoint a Consultant Neonatologist to join our friendly, forward-thinking and well-established neonatal team at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated paediatrician with a passion for neonatal medicine to work within a busy and highly regarded Local Neonatal Unit (LNU), while also contributing to neonatal follow-up, neurodevelopmental services and selected infant outpatient clinics.

This vacancy has arisen following the departure of a consultant colleague. This includes 1.5 SPA (pro-rata), with opportunity to undertake additional SPAs in a lead role (e.g., governance).

Our neonatal service is supported by a strong multidisciplinary team comprising seven Consultant Neonatologists, two Neonatal Nurse Consultants who contribute to the Tier 2 rota, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (ANNPs) and junior medical staff, including paediatric trainees, GP trainees and foundation doctors. We are proud to maintain separate neonatal and general paediatric rotas across all three tiers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ensuring dedicated neonatal consultant leadership and support. The successful candidate will contribute solely to the neonatal rota and will not be required to participate in the acute general paediatric rota.

About us
We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.

With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one or both of our innovative hospitals.

As well as generous annual leave allowance, you will have access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Join us at an exciting time for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust! We have an ambitious plan for our journey to Outstanding and are looking for aspirational, committed individuals to join us, making a real difference to both staff and patients.

As a former winner of England for excellence award: Tourism destination of the year, the beautiful city of Gloucester and the scenic regency spa town of Cheltenham are fantastic places to work and live.

Details
Date posted: 04 August 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 318-26-NEOCONS
Job locations: Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Road, Gloucester, GL1 3NN, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities/Key Responsibilities
This post is for a Neonatologist or Paediatrician with a specialist interest in Neonatology to work within our Local Neonatal Unit (LNU) and contribute to the delivery of neonatal neurodevelopmental follow-up services.

The successful candidate will join a dedicated and supportive neonatal team, playing a key role in providing high-quality inpatient neonatal care, neonatal follow-up and neurodevelopmental assessment services.

Key responsibilities include:

• Working alongside the neonatal consultant team to provide consultant-led inpatient care within the Local Neonatal Unit and outpatient follow-up for newborn infants as required.
• Participating in the neonatal consultant on-call rota (currently 1 in 7).
• Contributing to the provision of general paediatric outpatient services, with a particular focus on young infant clinics, neonatal post-discharge follow-up and neonatal neurodevelopmental follow-up clinics.
• Providing senior clinical leadership and supporting the decision-making of junior medical staff, advanced practitioners and nursing colleagues.

The appointee will be expected to share responsibility for the delivery of high-quality care to the patientspresenting to the Department.

Professional Development, Education and Training
To participate in ongoing training and personal development
To contribute to multi-disciplinary skills training

Management and Leadership
To provide medical information for the development of systems appropriate for Trust needs
To participate in departmental consultant and senior staff meetings whilst remaining within theframework of the agreed strategy of the Trust and the department
To attend other departmental, divisional and Trust meetings as necessary
To attend regional and national meetings as necessary
To undertake all work in accordance with Trust procedures and operating policies

Teaching/Training (as agreed with Specialty Director)
The postholder will be expected to develop and lead an area of specialist interest to support countywide services. Excellence of care will be expected and the postholder will take full part in the risk management and clinical governance process for the department.

• To provide conditions for improved training opportunities in line with national and local recommendations arising out of Modernising Medical Careers and related requirements.
• To take a full role in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, including clinical meetings and tutorials. Medical students are currently taken from several universities, but the Clinical Academy based on the University of Bristol is expected to provide the majority of undergraduates in future.
• Where agreed, to act as Educational Supervisor to junior and middle grade medical staff, being responsible for their appraisal and personal development planning.
• The Trust subscribes to a wide range of journals and there are good medical libraries at both Gloucester and Cheltenham with full literature search facilities. The department is part of a Trust wide intranet system and is well served for literature search and other internet functions.

The post-holder will be encouraged to be active in clinical research. The Trust is part of a network of hospitals that have been collaborating with Cranfield University to form the Cranfield Postgraduate Medical School (based at Redwood House in Gloucester). Consultants at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals currently hold professional honorary academic appointments. The successful applicant may be afforded the opportunity to join this multi-disciplinary postgraduate medical school as a faculty member depending on interests and research activity.

The Trust has a well-established framework for clinical governance that incorporates the clinical audit program. A wide variety of audits are undertaken within the Department. The Department is supported by a dedicated audit assistant, a dedicated member of the Information department and a dedicated risk manager. Clinical Governance meetings are regular. The post-holder will be expected to take part in developing clinical audit activities within the department and achieving clinical governance objectives in accordance with the agreed Divisional and Trust clinical governance programs.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Full GMC registration
• Entry on Specialist Register (or entry expected within 6 months, CCT or CESR (CP) (proposed CCT/CESR (CP) date must be within 6 months of interview), CESR or European Community Rights
• MBBS or equivalent, MRCPCH

Desirable

• Neurodisability training program
• Additional degrees, diplomas or postgraduate thesis relevant to the specialty
• Personal membership of a 'medical defence' organisation

Knowledge Skills Experience
Essential

• Consistent with independent consultant practice in general paediatrics and neonatology
• Level 3 (multiagency) child safeguarding training
• Experience in multidisciplinary team working; ability to offer expert clinical opinion on wider aspects of community and general paediatric care
• Clinical training and experience in general paediatrics (Neonatal SPIN) or Neonataology, equivalent to that required for a UK CCT
• Ability to teach clinical skills
• SPIN specialty
• NLS or equivalent

Desirable

• NLS instructor
• Grid training in Neonatology

Clinical/Experience
Essential

• Competent to take charge of the day to day and longer-term clinical management of infants with chronic medical conditions, following discharge from the neonatal unit
• Competent to assess and lead on the safeguarding aspects of children

Desirable

• Experience in change management and innovation

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Flexibility, able to adapt to changing circumstances
• Ability to work under stress
• Communication skills, written and verbal
• Ability to work in multi-professional team
• Ability to organise own CME and CPD needs
• Commitment to the Specialty

Additional information
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.

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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Road, Gloucester, GL1 3NN, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
Chief of Service: Dr Clara Thompson
Email: clara.thompson@nhs.net
Telephone: 03004228494