Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

Role Summary

Join a team that combines patient-centred care with the lifestyle benefits of living in Devon. The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is looking to appoint a Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology. The role will be based at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple, with the option for cross-site working at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford) in Exeter.

This is a role where you can shape your career while enjoying the support of a close-knit, forward-thinking department. You’ll provide expert care across the complete scope of obstetrics and gynaecology, from routine procedures to challenging cases. We offer dedicated access to theatres, and you’ll be encouraged to develop your own specialist interests. Teaching, research, and service innovation are actively supported, giving you the freedom to build leadership skills and make a difference to women’s health.

For more information on the Job Description and Responsibilities please see below.

You will enjoy a varied mix of elective and emergency work across obstetrics and gynaecology, with dedicated access to theatres and the flexibility to build areas of subspecialty expertise, including fetal medicine. We actively encourage consultants to pursue leadership development, service innovation, and advanced training.

Highlights of working at the Royal Devon and the role include:

• Training & Development – A wide range of clinical and leadership courses, plus unprecedented access to our Gynaecology Theatre, support rapid skill enhancement and career growth.
• Career Progression – A supportive structure for moving into departmental leadership, complex case work, and service redesign.
• Research – Our long-standing research programme is expanding into a new, state-of-the-art clinical research facility in North Devon, with funded time for your own proposals and collaborations with the University of Exeter.
• Teaching – Close links with the University of Exeter Medical School, including funded teaching time and a planned evening education programme for CPD.
• Service Development – Opportunities to shape new services for a population of over 615,000 people across Devon, including technology-enabled remote consultations and disease monitoring.
• Innovation – We are piloting Ambient Voice Technology
  , an AI tool that transcribes and summarises patient consultations in real time, freeing clinicians to focus more on patients.
• Digital Excellence – We use the Epic electronic patient record system
  , already transforming care across the Trust, with a system-wide rollout completing in 2026.

About the department

Our North Devon Obstetrics and Gynaecology service is a close-knit team of eight consultants in Barnstaple, working alongside 19 colleagues in Exeter, with options for cross-site working. Junior staff include GP trainees, Foundation doctors, SAS and MTI doctors, supported by senior Perinatal Leadership, Clinical Matrons, and an experienced Operational Management team.

All services are delivered on the main Barnstaple hospital site with immediate access to laboratories, ICU, and other specialties. Facilities include the Ladywell Unit with a six-bedded Labour Ward, Bassett Ward for antenatal/postnatal care, a Level 1 Neonatal Unit, dedicated obstetric and gynaecology theatres, and Petter Ward for day cases.

• Deliver safe, patient-centred care across the full range of obstetric and gynaecological services.
• Manage a diverse clinical workload, including emergency and elective cases.
• Lead and participate in theatre sessions, with scope to develop subspecialty expertise.
• Contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate education, with protected teaching time.
• Engage in clinical research, supported by dedicated staff and facilities.
• Drive service innovation and quality improvement projects across the Trust.
• Take part in the 1:8 on-call rota (with cross-site option if desired).

Set in the beautiful South West of England
, our hospitals are surrounded by the dramatic landscapes of Exmoor and Dartmoor
, and a multitude of stunning beaches on our doorsteps are a great attraction to surfers, walkers,…