Locum Consultant Anaesthetics

Go back West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

The closing date is 07 October 2026

This post is for a Locum Consultant in Anaesthesia at the West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for 6 months. The successful candidate will be expected to cover Anaesthetic theatre sessions for surgical specialties typical of most district general hospitals and work flexibly dependent on the service needs of Anaesthesia and Pain. Duties will be at Watford General Hospital (WGH) and St Albans City Hospital (SACH).

Primary duties of the job are:

• Theatre lists (including weekend work): this will be across elective and emergency settings, including Obstetric anaesthesia.
• Cover for periods of colleague absence due to annual leave and other authorised undertaking.
• Provide professional supervision and management of trainee and specialty medical staff.
• Be actively involved in the management of the department including attendance at Audit, Governance and Consultant meetings.
• Take part in annual appraisal, and revalidation.
• Active involvement in audit and service improvement projects.
• Involvement in research is encouraged.
• Teaching both trainees and undergraduates.
• Maintain appropriate Continuing Professional Development.

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance.

If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contact

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Please see example timetable in the attached job description for an example of job responsibilities and hours. A job plan will be agreed upon successful appointment.

This job plan will contain flexible sessions where the post holders will be required to cover any sessions within their competency. These are useful for the department in introducing flexibility into Consultant working and are useful for the individual in that they allow skills to be retained in a wider range of sub-specialties than would be in a fixed job plan.

• MBBS or equivalent
• FRCA or equivalent
• Must be on the Specialist Register of GMC or within 6 months of CCT (and gaining specialist registration) at time of interview
• Up to date evidence based practice for adult and paediatric anaesthesia in the elective and emergency setting.
• Extensive experience in a wide range of Anaesthetic specialties equivalent to a UK CCT in Anaesthesia.
• Experience in Emergencies, Trauma, Obstetric and Paediatric Anesthesia
• Special interest in Regional anaesthesia and Remote Anaesthesia.
• Difficult Airway expertise.
• Life support provider (ALS or ATLS, APLS or MOET)
• Advanced Obstetric Anaesthesia Expertise
• Work experience in a major (or University Hospital) obstetric unit/ trauma centre/ paediatric anaesthesia unit

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.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust