Job summary
Consultant Cardiothoracic Transplant Surgeon - Organ Perfusion, Mechanical Circulatory Support & Cardiac Surgery

We are delighted to be able to offer an opportunity for a highly motivated, ambitious individual to join a long-established cardiothoracic service that has spanned nearly 40 years of experience in cardiothoracic transplantation. We are seeking to appoint a Consultant Surgeon in a substantive position whose primary role will be to support cardiothoracic transplantation (implantation), National organ retrieval service (NORS) (including DCD, NRP), ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP), Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle Upon Tyne in the United Kingdom.

The prospective candidate will be required to support the Newcastle Organ Assessment Hub (NOAH) which is being developed as part of a multi-organ Assessment and Recovery Centre (ARC). Applicants should have experience in the full range of routine and emergency adult cardiac surgery with a proven ability to work within a multidisciplinary team. This prospective appointment will join a current team of 6 consultant cardiac and transplant surgeons.

Main duties of the job
Applicants should be independent in cardiac and lung transplantation/retrieval and are required to manage donor offers, carry out heart and also lung transplantation surgery and be involved in post-operative care, ward rounds and multidisciplinary team meetings. In addition, the applicant should be independent in donor retrievals and have had experience in mechanical circulatory support (including ECMO, Impella, temporary and durable VADs). There will be mentorship and clinical support for prospective colleagues.

About us
For an informal discussion and further information regarding the opportunity, please contact: Mr. V. Dronavalli, Clinical Director Cardiothoracic Services and/or Dr. G. Meachery, Joint Director for the Cardiothoracic Transplant Service Tel: 0191 2137469/ 0191 2231727 Email: v.dronavalli@nhs.net /g.meachery@nhs.net

Details
Date posted: 18 September 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: 317-CON-26-235
Job locations: Freeman Hospital, High Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
This post encompasses a substantive consultant position with expertise in heart and lung transplantation, ex-vivo lung perfusion and recovery, organ retrieval, Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) and cardiac surgery. The prospective post holder will be expected to provide service and cover duties within the heart and lung transplant programme, the MCS service, as well as transplant clinics, ward rounds and working within a well established multi-disciplinary team. There will be opportunities for involvement in conventional cardiac surgery.

Person Specification
Education, Qualifications and Specialist Skills
Essential

• Primary Medical Qualification.
• Full GMC Registration.
• FRCS (C-Th) or equivalent
• Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register (within 6 months from the date of the AAC).
• Recognised training in heart and lung transplantation in the form of a National or International Fellowship or similar.

Desirable

• Higher Degree.
• Special skills training in the specialty.

Clinical Experience
Essential

• Evidence of experience in the specialty.
• Evidence of a substantial commitment to the specialty.
• Ability to offer an expert clinical opinion within the speciality.
• Ability to take independent responsibility for the clinical care of patients referred to a tertiary centre.
• Ability to perform heart and lung transplantation.
• NHSBT sign off for adult donor retrievals (DBD/DCD Lung)
• Evidence of training and experience in ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP)
• Experience in MCS insertion and management - Impella, ECMO, BIVAD, durable VAD
• Independent to perform organ retrieval for heart and lung transplantation
• Independent in conventional adult cardiac surgery

Desirable

• Previous Consultant level experience.
• Evidence of training and experience in machine perfusion of donor hearts (OCS)
• NHSBT sign off for adult and paediatric donor
• NHSBT sign off for adult DCD Heart
• NHSBT sign off for adult NRP

Management and Administration Experience
Essential

• Involvement with management and project leadership within the specialty.
• Evidence of involvement in authoring or reviewing clinical guidelines.
• An understanding of Clinical Governance. Demonstrates evidence in transplant service development.

Desirable

• Proven management and administrative experience and understanding of management goals.
• Evidence of leadership / project management.
• Evidence of audit or clinical governance lead
• Evidence of having implemented change.
• Developing departmental SOPs for new technologies
• Experience in developing and implementing new technologies

Teaching
Essential

• Experience of supervising junior medical staff.
• Experience of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
• Ability to teach clinical / technical / practical skills.

Desirable

• Attendance at courses to develop teaching skills.
• Postgraduate qualification in medical education.

Research
Essential

• Evidence of involvement in and understanding of research methodology and publication of findings.

Desirable

• Higher degree.
• Research/critical review of literature.
• Publications in the last five years.

Audit
Essential

• Evidence of participation in audit.

Desirable

• Evidence of having changed practice as a result of audit.
• Evidence of having revisited the audit to assess improvement.

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).