Consultant in Orthopaedic Surgery (Upper or Lower Limb) - Plymouth- Join a leading elective sur[...]

At Pulse Doctors, we are delighted to be working in partnership with a leading independent UK provider of elective care to recruit an experienced, fellowship-trained Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with a specialist interest in Upper or Lower limb surgery to join their expanding surgical team in Plymouth.

The post-holder will deliver a high-quality, high-volume elective Upper or Lower service, including specialist shoulder-led orthopaedic care across outpatient, day-case and inpatient settings, within a well-supported independent sector environment. This is an excellent opportunity for a surgeon seeking a focused elective practice free from emergency on-call commitments, with the support of an experienced anaesthetic team, dedicated scrub staff, and a robust clinical governance framework.

The Treatment Centre is a modern, purpose-built facility on the outskirts of the city centre of Plymouth delivering a high volume of elective surgical procedures to NHS patients of the local population. The Centre operates dedicated orthopaedic theatres, a laminar flow environment, and a well-equipped recovery and physiotherapy unit.

Consultant Job Plan

A typical job plan will comprise of 40 hours of clinical activity per week across 4 days, including Saturdays on occasions, with flexible elements. Five hours for SPA is given per week, but employees are expected to work flexibly where necessary when colleagues are on leave. The annual leave entitlement for senior medical staff is 25 days a year plus bank holidays.

• Delivering specialist upper limb (shoulder-led) orthopaedic care across outpatient, day-case and inpatient settings
• Undertaking surgical procedures and contributing to the elective orthopaedic programme
• Providing clinical leadership and expert advice to the wider clinical team
• Participating in clinical governance, audit and quality improvement initiatives
• Supporting service development to enhance upper limb pathways and patient outcomes
• Contributing to teaching, training and continuous professional development within the centre
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the hospital and wider NHS network to ensure seamless patient care

Key Responsibilities (Lower Limb)

• Joint surgery: Primary knee arthroplasty
• Primary hip cemented or equivalent specialist registration FRCS

There is a very generous relocation package available to support you.

Location in Detail

Plymouth is a genuinely liveable city that offers a quality of life that is hard to match elsewhere in the UK at a comparable price point. The combination of coastline, countryside, and urban amenity means residents can be swimming in the sea, walking on Dartmoor, or kayaking in the Sound — all within 30 to 40 minutes of the city centre. The outdoor lifestyle is a huge draw, and Plymouth has a strong culture of sailing, surfing, wild swimming, and coastal walking that permeates everyday life in a way that feels organic rather than touristy.

The food and drink scene has grown considerably in recent years, with the Barbican and surrounding waterfront areas home to a strong independent restaurant culture — fresh seafood is a particular highlight given the city's fishing heritage. There is a genuine community feel to many of Plymouth's neighbourhoods, and areas like Mannamead, Peverell, and Hartley are popular with families for their good schools, green spaces, and village-like atmosphere within easy reach of the city centre.

For those relocating — particularly from London or the South East — the financial difference is significant. Average house prices in Plymouth are a fraction of what you would pay in comparable coastal cities, meaning more space, better quality of life, and far less financial pressure day to day. Transport links are solid, with direct trains to London Paddington taking around three hours, and Exeter — with its airport and motorway connections — less than an hour away.

For consultants and medical professionals in particular, the area offers a rare blend of serious career opportunity at Derriford Hospital, one of the largest teaching hospitals in the UK, alongside a lifestyle that genuinely competes with anywhere in the country.

About Pulse Healthcare Doctors

Pulse Healthcare Doctors is a leading medical recruitment partner, supporting NHS Trusts and private healthcare organisations across the UK. We work closely with hospitals to connect talented doctors with outstanding permanent and fixed-term career opportunities.