Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist

Department / Directorate: Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Children, Young People & Women’s Services Location: County Armagh / County Down (with cross-site service requirements across the Trust area as needed) Contract Type & Term: Fixed Term (12 Months) Working Pattern: Full-Time (10 Programmed Activities) (Part-time / Job share applications welcome) Salary: £106,424 to £139,920 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) Accountability: Clinical Accountability: Clinical Director, Obstetrics & Gynaecology Professional Accountability: Divisional Medical Director Operational Accountability: Director of Children, Young People & Women’s Services Summary of Post An enthusiastic and dedicated Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist is required for a 12-month fixed-term replacement post based in County Armagh / County Down . The appointee will join an established team of 8 other substantive consultants providing comprehensive acute inpatient, day case, and outpatient obstetrical and gynaecological services. The on-call commitment operates on an indicative 1:8 rota (with potential transition to 1:9), incorporating a prospective "Consultant of the Week" (COW) model. The Trust serves a catchment population of approximately 388,688 residents and maintains strong academic teaching affiliations with Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). Department & Service Profile Obstetrics: 19 obstetric beds handling approximately 2,000 deliveries annually across midwife-led, consultant-led, and shared-care pathways. 4 delivery rooms, 1 dedicated obstetric theatre, recovery facilities, and an on-site two-room Midwifery-Led Unit with two birthing pools. Continuous 40 hours per week on-site prospective labour ward cover via the Consultant of the Week (COW) system. Neonatal care provided by an adjacent Special Care Baby Unit (6 cots) with 24/7 on-site paediatric medical cover. Gynaecology: 6-bedded inpatient bay with access to side rooms, utilising main operating theatres for day-case and major procedures across 5 lists weekly. Modern Women’s Health Hub offering dedicated Early Pregnancy Clinic (EPC) accommodation and expanding ambulatory/procedure-based gynaecological care. Specialist Outpatient Services: Outpatient clinics including colposcopy (2.5 sessions/week), weekly menopause clinic, and urodynamics/urogynaecology services. Regional multidisciplinary links for gynaecological oncology with tertiary cancer centres. Medical Staffing: The consultant team is supported by 8 WTE Specialty Doctors, 1 Specialist Registrar, and 7–8 junior doctors (ST1–2 / FY2). Main Duties & Responsibilities Clinical Responsibilities Share collective responsibility for the provision of high-quality inpatient, elective day-case, and outpatient obstetrical and gynaecological services. Participate fully in the out-of-hours on-call rota (1:8 / 1:9) and provide reciprocal cross-cover during colleague leave or emergency absences. Lead on-site Delivery Suite sessions, emergency theatre interventions, and acute gynaecology triage during designated Consultant of the Week (COW) shifts. Maintain and deliver elective surgical lists (including planned caesarean sections, diagnostic laparoscopy, laparotomy, and adnexal surgery). Deliver outpatient clinics, specialist early pregnancy assessments, and routine family planning gynaecological procedures. Ensure open, compassionate, and transparent communication with patients and families regarding diagnoses, treatment pathways, and informed consent. Teaching, Audit & Governance Deliver undergraduate bedside and clinical teaching, curriculum delivery, and student assessments for Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) medical students. Supervise, mentor, and train junior doctors, specialty trainees, and SAS doctors within the department. Lead and participate in regular multi-disciplinary clinical audits, perinatal mortality/morbidity meetings, and clinical governance initiatives. Comply with General Medical Council (GMC) Good Medical Practice standards, participate in annual revalidation appraisals, and engage in continuing medical education (CME/CPD) through the RCOG framework. Indicative Job Plan (10 Programmed Activities) The contract provides an indicative 10 PAs weekly, balanced between Direct Clinical Care and Supporting Professional Activities: Direct Clinical Care (DCC): 8.0 to 8.5 PAs (inclusive of elective theatre, antenatal/gynaecology clinics, procedural hubs, and on-call commitments). Supporting Professional Activities (SPA): Minimum 1.5 PAs (with 2.0 SPAs allocated in Year 1 for newly appointed consultants to support CPD, appraisal, audit, and teaching). Person Specification Assessment Factor Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria Qualifications & Professional Registration • Full GMC Registration with a valid Licence to Practise (or eligible at appointment) • Higher professional qualification: MRCOG or recognised equivalent • Entry on GMC Specialist Register via: – CCT in Obstetrics & Gynaecology (or within 6 months of CCT at interview date) – Portfolio Pathway (CESR) submitted and accepted by GMC (or within 6 months of award) • Further higher postgraduate degree (MD, PhD, MSc) • Relevant completed Special Skills Modules (SSMs) Clinical Skills & Experience • Comprehensive, independent competency in managing acute labour ward emergencies and complex caesarean deliveries • Competence in core gynaecological surgery (laparoscopy, laparotomy, management of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage) • Special clinical interest complementing the team (e.g., multiple pregnancy / preterm birth, maternal medicine, labour ward lead, PROMPT) • Advanced fetal medicine ultrasound experience (e.g., MCA dopplers, ductus venosus, uterine artery dopplers) Governance & Management • Active track record of participation in clinical audit, patient safety, and morbidity/mortality reviews • Understanding of clinical risk management and complaints investigation • Documented medical leadership or health service management experience Interpersonal & Team Skills • Clear, empathetic verbal and written communication with patients, families, and multidisciplinary colleagues • Proven capacity to lead and make sound decisions under pressure in an acute clinical setting • Demonstrated commitment to junior medical teaching and multi-professional team support Other Requirements • Full, valid driving licence and access to transport for emergency travel across the county/Trust area (subject to reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities) Satisfactory AccessNI Enhanced Disclosure clearance HSC Core Values Staff are expected to exemplify the regional HSC values and associated behaviours in all patient and professional interactions: Working Together: Valuing every team member's contribution, fostering multidisciplinary partnerships, and supporting colleagues across services. Compassion: Demonstrating active listening, empathy, kindness, and sensitivity to the emotional and physical needs of patients and carers. Excellence: Committing to the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based care while asking, "Could we do this better?" Openness & Honesty: Acting with integrity, professional candour, and transparency, ensuring concerns are voiced and addressed promptly.