Consultant Psychiatrist in Substance Use

Overview

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Consultant Psychiatrist in Substance Use – Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre (Reference 239610)

NHS Lothian is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Lothian welcomes applications from all sections of society. We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

The post contributes a key element of the substance use service offered to the citizens of Edinburgh, providing additional expert psychiatric and medical consultation to the existing Edinburgh Substance Use Services and primary care colleagues. The post will act as lead clinician for treating substance use in the South West sector and will inform the shape and delivery of forward-facing services, focused on building resilience, supporting rehabilitation and enabling recovery.

It is a requirement that patients are actively recruited and retained into treatment services. The role includes supporting more patients by specialist input while appropriately treating them within the Primary Care setting, thereby increasing the flexibility and responsiveness of the secondary care service. The post will involve working alongside the three existing full-time consultant substance use psychiatry consultants to provide comprehensive city-wide quality care.

More detailed departmental and specialty information can be found in the job description available via email address / link below.

For an informal discussion please contact Dr Nina Webb or Dr Michael Kehoe, Consultant Psychiatrists – Substance Misuse, at  or nina.webbt / michael.kehoet. Alternatively, contact Patricia Burns, EHSCP Substance Use Service Manager, Patricia.

Burnst.

• Applicants must have full GMC Registration, a license to practise and eligible for inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register.
• Those trained in the UK should have evidence of higher specialist training leading to CCT or be within 6 months of confirmed entry from the date of interview.
• Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR) route doctors are only eligible to apply for a substantive consultant post once it has been awarded.
• Non-UK applicants must demonstrate equivalent training.

Applications are welcome for the above permanent, full-time (40 hours per week) post based in Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre. The post forms a key element of the substance use service offered to Edinburgh’s citizens.

• The service has benefited from investment through the Scottish Government strategy “All Together Now:
  Our strategy to address the harms of alcohol and drugs in Scotland” which has expanded the specialist secondary care service.
• The post includes working with existing consultants to provide comprehensive city-wide care and may involve expanding links to Primary Care practices.
• Closing Date: 07/03/2026. Interview Date: 31/03/2026.

If viewing from an external site, please visit  for a job pack detailing the minimum requirements and how to apply. We cannot accept CVs as a form of application; only a completed online application form will be accepted. Personal information will not be sent with the application for shortlisting; the application form will be identified by the candidate number only to ensure equal treatment.

EEO statement: NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity in the workforce.