Job summary
This post is based in the General Surgical Department, at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. We are looking for individuals who have experience working at Speciality Trainee level 4+, and who are capable and confident in working in a busy environment.

This is for a 12 month fixed term contract starting October 2026

Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities:
The appointee will join the one of the specialties and will be expected to participate in all facets of departmental activity. When on call you will have no elective commitments.

About us
Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Details
Date posted: 12 August 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Doctor - other
Salary: £67,325 a year
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: REF2542X
Job locations: Queen Alexandra Hosp, Southwick Hill Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY
Southwick Hill Road
Portsmouth
England
PO6 3LY
United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Duties
a) Elective
To undertake pre and post operative care of elective admissions, and to supervise the junior medical staff in this respect. To ensure that a daily ward round is carried out in addition to the formal rounds noted on the Consultants timetable. To assist the Consultants in the operating theatre, and to undertake surgical operating lists. To attend out patient clinics as required and to manage both new and follow up patients. The post holder will be required to participate in clinical audit according to the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Surgeons. He/She will also be expected to complete a portfolio including operation logbook, complementing the information held on the computer. In addition to supervising the junior doctors there will be a commitment of formal teaching of students from Southampton University Medical School. Participation in the regularly held meetings is expected and clinical research projects are actively encouraged.

b) Emergency
The Specialist Trainee (this post) is responsible for the acute admissions of general surgery and vascular surgery patients; reporting to the appropriate Duty Consultant Surgeon (there are separate consultants on call for General Surgery and Vascular Surgery). In addition to this, you are expected to see referrals in the Emergency Department and referrals from other specialties all around this large hospital of over 1000 beds. You will also be operating on emergencies on the CEPOD list (available 24 hours a day, but shared with all other specialties except Orthopaedics). We have 2 surgical teams based on the Surgical Assessment unit daily, each with Consultant, ST, CT, FYx2 and SENP. There are twice daily Consultant ward rounds which you are expected to lead and have the team organised for. Your basic surgical skills must include an ability to take accurate case histories, make provisional diagnoses, order appropriate investigations and initiate management of patients. You should also be capable of carrying out simple surgical procedures such as drainage of abscesses, and basic laparoscopies and straight forward laparoscopic and open appendicectomies. An ability to carry out flexible sigmoidoscopies is advantageous. For more major procedures your operating will depend on your abilities and consultant supervision is available 24 hours per day.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Full GMC registration with a licence to practice
• MBBS or equivalent
• MRCS or equivalent
• PLAB (if applicable)
• ATLS
• BSS
• CCrlSP

Desirable

• Clinical Experience
• Higher professional training in General Surgery at ST4+ (significant experience desirable)
• Experience of working within the NHS desirable
• Please note this is a registrar level post and not appropriate for consultants/professors

Experience
Essential

• Clinical Skills
• Ability to independently do flexible sigmoidoscopy when required on call, incision and drainage of abscesses, diagnostic laparoscopy, laparoscopic & open appendicectomies, chest drain insertion.
• Ability to take clear and concise case histories and good clinical examination
• Ability to initiate treatment of common surgical conditions.
• Ability to manage on call junior doctor team in busy unit.
• Understanding of clinical risk management

Desirable

• Desirable - Experience of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and laparoscopic & hernia repairs.
• Proven experience of running a general surgery on call at Registrar level.

Additional criteria
Essential

• Knowledge
• Understand workings of the NHS
• Able to demonstrate appropriate level of clinical knowledge
• Willing to seek timely assistance from senior colleagues when appropriate
• Knowledge and use of evidence based practice
• IT skills
• Effective, confident presentation ability
• Experience in and outside speciality

Desirable

• Ability to function successfully under pressure
• Able to adopt the objectives or an existing team
• Evidence of participation in audit
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Publications
• Prizes and honours
• Logical thinking, problem solving and decision making

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).

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

Employer details
Employer name: Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
Address: Queen Alexandra Hosp, Southwick Hill Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY
Southwick Hill Road
Portsmouth
England
PO6 3LY
United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/work-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Hiring Manager
Jemma Kitchen
jemma.kitchen@nhs.net

Supporting documents
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