Consultant in Spinal Surgery

Consultant in Spinal Surgery

The closing date is 25 January 2026

The successful candidate will participate in a 1 in 6 week on-call rota to cover all Spinal Surgery emergencies and referrals. This is a non-resident rota and includes weekdays and weekend cover. No elective work takes place during this week. The on-call week is supported by 2 spinal fellows  weekdays, 1 spinal fellow  at the weekend and the Orthopaedic Registrar on call overnight ).

The successful candidate will occupy an integral position within the Spinal Surgical Team. Suitable candidates should be on the Specialist Register and must have obtained the FRCS (Tr&Ortho / Neurosurg) or equivalent and have recognised advanced experience in Spinal Surgery and have a track record lending credibility to a career dedicated to Spinal Surgery, including specialist fellowship experience.

Applications are invited for the post of Consultant in Spinal Surgery as part of the Spines Surgical Team within Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. University Hospital of Wales is the first Major Trauma Centre to launch within Wales. The Major Trauma Centre is part of an inclusive and collaborative South West and Mid Wales Network spanning six Health Board areas.

This post has been created due to the expansion of the department to cope with increasing demand, predominantly in degenerative adult spinal pathology and major trauma. At the present time the role will not include paediatric deformity but there is the potential for the development of this in the future. The successful candidate will be expected to have competencies in the independent operative management of patients with complex spine trauma, adult degenerative spinal surgery (cervical and lumbar), metastatic spinal cord compression, spinal infections and cauda equina syndrome.

Applicants must ensure they provide names and contact details of referees covering at least the last 3 years of their employment/training history in full. In addition, applicants who are currently or have most recently been employed as a substantive Consultant or as a Locum Consultant in post for more than 12 months must also provide the name of their Medical Director as an additional referee.

• On GMC Specialist Register for specialty / Specialty Registrar with CCT due within 6 months of interview date (note that Portfolio Pathway applicants must be on the Specialist Register at the point of application)
• Recognised Advanced Fellowship in Spinal Surgery
• ATLS or APLS provider status
• Relevant higher degree e.g. MD, PhD, MSc in Trauma

• Broad training and experience in Spinal Surgery
• Demonstrable experience in the operative management of complex spine trauma, adult degenerative spinal surgery (cervical and lumbar), metastatic spinal cord compression, spinal infections and cauda equina syndrome
• Completion of recognised Spinal Surgery fellowship
• Evidence of independent practice
• Experience of Major Trauma Centre working

• Evidence of effective team and multidisciplinary working
• Effective and demonstrable communication skills
• Evidence of CPD

• Evidence of participation in clinical audit and understanding role of audit in improving medical practice
• Comprehension of core philosophy and building blocks of clinical governance
• Evidence of proactive engagement with appraisal and revalidation (or equivalent)

• Evidence of active research interests

• Interest in education and training of resident doctors and medical students

• Evidence of effective leadership skills

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.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 15,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services.

Our mission is "Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together" and our vision is that every person's chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. As an organisation we are unashamedly ambitious for our population's health, rising to the challenges of today and tomorrow through our 10-year strategy, Shaping our Future Wellbeing. We are contributing to a healthier Wales with great emphasis placed on innovation and improvement, learning from around the world and leading the way in clinical research.

Partnership working is strong at Cardiff and Vale, and we work closely with our staff and our community.

Cardiff, the thriving Welsh…