Company Description
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.
Job Description
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
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.
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.
Qualifications
Qualifications
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Full GMC registration with a licence to practice
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MBBS or equivalent
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MRCS or equivalent
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PLAB (if applicable)
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ATLS
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BSS
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CCrlSP
Clinical Experience
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Higher professional training in General Surgery at ST4+ (significant experience desirable)
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Experience of working within the NHS desirable
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Please note this is a registrar level post and not appropriate for consultants/professors
Clinical Skills
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Ability to independently do flexible sigmoidoscopy when required on call, incision and drainage of abscesses, diagnostic laparoscopy, laparoscopic & open appendectomies, chest drain insertion.
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Ability to take clear and concise case histories and good clinical examination
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Ability to initiate treatment of common surgical conditions.
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Ability to manage on call junior doctor team in busy unit.
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Understanding of clinical risk management
Desirable - Experience of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and laparoscopic & hernia repairs.
- Proven experience of running a general surgery on call at Registrar level.
Knowledge
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Understand workings of the NHS
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Able to demonstrate appropriate level of clinical knowledge
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Willing to seek timely assistance from senior colleagues when appropriate
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Knowledge and use of evidence based practice
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IT skills
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Effective, confident presentation ability
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Experience in and outside speciality
Other
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Ability to function successfully under pressure
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Able to adopt the objectives or an existing team
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Evidence of participation in audit
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Good oral and written communication skills
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Publications
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Prizes and honours
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Logical thinking, problem solving and decision making
Respect and Dignity
Quality of Care
Working Together
Efficiency
Additional Information
The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.
We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.
For more information, please see our People and OD Strategy 2026
