Consultant in Orthopaedic Surgery (Upper or Lower Limb) - Plymouth- Join aleading 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 & hybrid
• Primary hip uncemented
• Minor orthopaedic surgery to include:
• Arthroscopy of the knee
• Carpal Tunnel Release and minor Hand Procedures
• Joint aspiration and/or injection and other Minor Musculoskeletal procedures
• Other minor procedures possibly including forefoot surgery

Duties will include preoperative, intra operative and postoperative activities and therefore covers all aspects of patient care. Applicants will be required to demonstrate a high level of operative skill in at least one of the following areas:

• Primary hip replacement: demonstrable evidence of having performed at least 250 hip replacement procedures over the previous three years
• Primary knee replacement: demonstrable evidence of having performed at least 250 knee replacement procedures over the previous three years
• Arthroscopic procedures (other than ACL's): demonstrable evidence of having performed at least 500 knee arthroscopic procedures over the previous three years
• Other minor orthopaedic procedures

Essential Criteria to Apply

• MBChB, MB BCh BAO or equivalent primary medical degree
• Full GMC registration with licence to practise - CCT (or within 6 months) in Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery; or equivalent specialist registration
• FRCS (Tr & Orth) or equivalent
• Fellowship training in Upper limb arthroplasty (Shoulder/Elbow) or Lower Limb (Hip/Knee)
• Higher degree (MD/PhD) or additional subspecialty fellowship
• Demonstrable high-volume independent practice in primary THR and TKR

What's on Offer for You?

• A competitive basic salary of up to £144,000 per annum
• Shifts pre-planned up to 8 weeks to allow employed Consultants to plan around other commitments.
• Extensive training courses accessible
• Access to private health insurance
• 10 days study leave
• Great development and career progression opportunities.
• An extensive range of wellbeing and lifestyle benefits.
• Flexible shifts that enable you to work around other commitments.

Applications from outside of the local area are welcome; 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.