Consultant Spinal Surgeon

Site University Hospitals North Midlands NHS Trust Town Stoke on Trent Salary £113,565 - £150,569 pa Salary period Yearly Closing 11/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

UHNM is looking to recruit two full time Consultant Spinal Surgeon's. In conjunction with consultant colleagues, the post holder will provide a comprehensive complex and non-complex spine surgical service to UHNM. The desired candidate will be comfortable performing decompressive and complex spinal surgery and spine emergency surgery in a major trauma setting, with an appropriate elective sub-specialty interest which will be in line with departmental requirements. The post holder will not be required to undertake any spine deformity surgery.

The successful applicant should demonstrate that they have had dedicated fellowship training in spine surgery and are able to perform at consultant level in both complex and non-complex spine surgery including evidence of being able to fulfil a major trauma centre spine surgical on call commitment.

The successful applicant must have current or recent Major Trauma experience at consultant or senior fellow level

The successful applicant's will be expected to work across both our sites at Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital. There will also be sessions in other hospitals in the West Midlands region as partnership working in a hub and spoke model (with UHNM being the hub).

Main duties of the job

• To work with the team to achieve local, regional and national access targets, standards of care and key performance indicators.
• To see new patients and patients taken from existing Consultant inpatient waiting lists for pre-operative assessment and to obtain informed consent, prior to performing surgical treatment.
• To review their own and other Consultants patients waiting follow up with discharge to primary care or facilitation of ongoing care in accordance with guidance issued by current local Commissioners.
• To provide leadership and skill in primary and revision spinal surgery.
• To provide specialist services in management of spinal emergencies and urgent non elective cases and provide assistance in management of major trauma patients.
• To manage and be responsible for continuing care of patients with spinal problems in partnership with current spinal surgeons.
• To lead ward management by active participation and example.
• To attend weekly MDT and other service and governance meetings
• To be active in teaching and training and research specifically for spinal conditions.
• To attend Regional Spine Network meetings as directed by the RSN lead.
• To liaise with other surgeons in respect of annual leave and study leave to ensure continued provision of service delivery.
• To actively engage with the British Spine Registry
• To participate in a 1:10 on call rota

Working for our organisation

The Directorate includes Major Trauma, Orthopaedics, Spines and Neurosurgery. Facilities include a dedicated trauma theatre for spine surgery, dedicated elective spine surgery theatre as well as trauma and orthopaedic theatres, neurosurgery and elective orthopaedic theatres.

Our screened elective orthopaedic ward at County site is exclusively used for orthopaedic and spine surgery elective patients therefore there is no risk of cancellations for emergency demand. Spines and Neurosurgery have dedicated theatre staff for each specialty at the Royal Stoke site. There is a dedicated spine trauma list Tuesday to Friday, and at weekends theatres are shared with Trauma and Neurosurgery. Trauma theatres run 7 days per week.

UHNM is the Major Trauma Centre for the North West Midlands and North Wales and has an excellent reputation. The MTC serves the population of Staffordshire, South Cheshire, Shropshire and North Wales and is one of the busiest for spine and orthopaedic trauma.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To work with the team to achieve local, regional and national access targets, standards of care and key performance indicators.
• To see new patients and patients taken from existing Consultant inpatient waiting lists for pre-operative assessment and to obtain informed consent, prior to performing surgical treatment.
• To review their own and other Consultants patients waiting follow up with discharge to primary care or facilitation of ongoing care in accordance with guidance issued by current local Commissioners.
• To provide leadership and skill in primary and revision spinal surgery.
• To provide specialist services in management of spinal emergencies and urgent non elective cases and provide assistance in management of major trauma patients.
• To manage and be responsible for continuing care of patients with spinal problems in partnership with current spinal surgeons.
• To lead ward management by active participation and example.
• To attend weekly MDT and other service and governance meetings
• To be active in teaching and training and research specifically for spinal conditions.
• To attend Regional Spine Network meetings as directed by the RSN lead.
• To liaise with other surgeons in respect of annual leave and study leave to ensure continued provision of service delivery.
• To actively engage with the British Spine Registry
• To participate in a 1:10 on call rota

Person specification

GMC

• Full GMC Registration
• Entry on the GMC Specialist Register via CCT or CESR (CP) - proposed CCT/CESR (CP) date must be within 6 months of interview CESR or European Community Right

Clinical Experience

• Extensive experience in managing complex spine trauma as part of a major trauma service
• Evidence of completion of approved fellowship training in the appropriate sub specialty
• Candidates must have experience in the management of complex elective spinal surgery.
• ATLS/ European Trauma/ or equivalent Trauma Course in last four years
• Evidence of managing independent operating lists / Previous experience at Consultant or Fellow level
• Evidence of recent research and/or audit activity in the appropriate sub specialty.

Teaching

• Experience of post graduate and undergraduate teaching and training at an appropriate level.
• Experience of supervising specialist / core and foundation trainees

Audit

• Effective participation in clinical audit

Research

• Ability to appraise scientific literature critically
• Publications in clinical journals

Management

• Management of clinical service
• Experience of Audit Management

Important information about your application

• All correspondence will be sent to you via the email address you applied from. Please ensure you check your emails regularly.
• References - please ensure you provide email addresses for all referees for the last three years of employment.
• We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from everyone regardless of ethnicity, disability, gender, age, faith or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.
• Flexible working will be considered in line with Trust policies
• New recruits are required to pay for their Disclosure and Barring Service check (and admin fee) prior to starting if the role requires a DBS check.
• University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been awarded the Gold Award for proudly supporting those who serve. We actively encourage applications from the Armed Forces community
• If you obtained your qualifications overseas, you will be required to provide an official government translation through ECCTIS (formerly known as NARIC). Please note, this is in addition to any professional registration requirements and not a replacement for your qualifications.
• If you are currently in the UK on a visa, you must have at least six months remaining on your visa at the time of your start date to ensure sufficient time for the operational and training process associated with the role. The requirement of at least six months remaining on your visa does not apply to a Skilled Worker Visa, as a new Skilled Worker Visa would be required for a new role.
• In line with the change of Immigration rules on 8th January 2026 if you require Sponsorship through the Skilled Worker Visa you must be able to provide B2 English evidence before a Certificate of Sponsorship can be issued.
• Visa eligibility notice:
  Skilled Worker visas cannot currently be issued to Afghan nationals.
• Study visas cannot currently be issued to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar or Sudan.
  As a result, we are unable to progress applications requiring sponsorship under these routes.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been awarded the Gold Award for proudly supporting those who serve. We actively encourage applications from the Armed Forces community.

UHNM supports the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist in preparing your supporting statement. However, we reserve the right to reject applications where AI has been used in a misleading manner, for example, by implying experience or understanding that the applicant does not possess or where its use is excessive or unfair. If AI has been used to support your application, you must declare this within your submission.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Mr Amit Bhalla Job title Consultant Spinal Surgeon Email address Amit.Bhalla@uhnm.nhs.uk Telephone number 01782 715444

If you have problems applying, contact

Address 2nd Floor, Springfield Building
Royal Stoke University Hospital
Newcastle Road
Stoke on Trent
ST4 6QG
Telephone 01782 674783