Skullbase Locum Consultant | North NHS Trust

The successful applicant will join the established Skull Base Neurosurgery Team at North Bristol NHS Trust, currently comprising three consultant neurosurgeons providing a comprehensive regional service.

The postholder will provide general skull base care, including management of meningioma and vestibular (acoustic) schwannoma, working closely with neurosurgery and neuro‑otology ENT colleagues within an established joint skull base MDT and the neurofibromatosis MDT.

Some vascular experience is desirable; the postholder may be asked to support routine and emergency neurovascular work, though no expectation to participate in complex vascular procedures such as revascularisation.

At times, the postholder may be asked to offer advice or limited support to paediatric neurosurgical colleagues at Bristol Children’s Hospital; no requirement for endoscopic expertise or management of complex paediatric conditions.

The role includes cross‑cover for the intrathecal baclofen pump service, ensuring continuity of care for this specialist patient group.

The appointee will participate in the complex cranial and simple spinal on‑call rota (currently 1:13) at Southmead Hospital, taking responsibility for patients with complex cranial and general spinal pathology and contributing to both elective and emergency neurosurgical activity.

As part of a large, collaborative department, the postholder will work closely with consultant colleagues to maintain high standards of care, actively engage in MDTs, audit, teaching, and service development, and support the wider aims of the department and the South West Neurosurgical Network.

• Provide general skull base care for meningioma and vestibular schwannoma.
• Collaborate with neurosurgery, neuro‑otology ENT, joint skull base MDT, and neurofibromatosis MDT.
• Support routine and emergency neurovascular work; not responsible for complex vascular procedures.
• Provide limited support to paediatric neurosurgical colleagues at Bristol Children’s Hospital.
• Cover intrathecal baclofen pump service.
• Participate in complex cranial and simple spinal on‑call rota; handle complex cranial and general spinal pathology.
• Work closely with consultants to maintain high standards, engage in MDTs, audit, teaching, and service development.
• Responsible for patient care, ensuring proper functioning of the service, and completing administrative duties.
• Adhere to Trust policy and procedures, contribute to policy and service development, and understand NHS financial management.
• Provide compassionate leadership and supervise junior staff; lead by example.
• Support development of junior doctors and medical students; oversee their training and provide career advice.
• Engage in partnership working with all disciplines, external stakeholders, and service users to build effective teams.

Continuing responsibility for the care of patients in charge, maintaining proper functioning of the service and administrative duties. Work in partnership with colleagues and external links to ensure quality service.

Adherence to Trust policy and procedures, contribution to policy and service development. Understanding of NHS financial management to provide best service, minimise waste, improve services, promote effective use of resources.

Provide compassionate leadership; supervise junior staff, lead by example; work within multi‑agency teams across Primary and Secondary Care.

Ensure high‑quality clinical and educational supervision. Responsible for professional supervision, management of junior staff; named in educational contract; allocate time within job plans.

Work in partnership with colleagues of all disciplines, external stakeholders, and service users. Commit to shared goals, build effective teams, valuing roles of others.

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff and provides healthcare to residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is to enable our teams to be the best they can be, providing exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti‑discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. We welcome applicants from all under‑represented groups.