Trust Resident Doctor ST5 (MN37), Breast Surgery in Watford

The post is a full time appointment for a Trust Resident Doctor for Breast Surgery. The post is available from October 2026 for one year which provides excellent experience of a busy symptomatic breast unit and training in oncoplastic breast surgery techniques including reconstructions and lipomodelling. There are good opportunities to take part in unit audits. We also work closely with plastic surgeons at the Royal Free Hospital.

Main duties of the job:

• The Main duties of the post will involve responsibility for the care of elective and emergency breast patients on the ward and the supervision of the junior SHOs and House Surgeons in their duties.
• The post holder is required to attend operation sessions and out-patient clinics and the weekly breast multidisciplinary meeting.
• You will be expected to work closely with appropriate nursing, professional, technical, administrative and support staff.
• You will be responsible for ensuring adequate clinical notes are made in accordance with good medical practice.
• The post holder will have a continuing responsibility for the care of patients in his/her charge and will undertake administration duties associated with the care of his/her patients and the running of his/her department.
• Administrative duties will necessitate close liaison with the management team to ensure appropriate control of the department budget and to provide clinical input to the business planning process and assistance with the service development.

Working for our organisation:

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, 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 ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• As part of the requirements of clinical governance, the post-holder will participate in monthly surgical audit and clinical governance meetings at WGH.
• The post-holder will be responsible for ensuring that they take any appropriate action required with regards to governance and risk management in line with relevant regulations, policies and procedures.
• The post-holder under the direction of the Lead doctor and Associate Medical Director will be responsible for continued professional development and take part in continuing medical education activities, in line with the requirements of the appropriate Royal College guidelines to maintain standards of performance.
• They will participate in an annual appraisal and maintain a personal development plan agreed at this appraisal.
• A key responsibility of the post will be the education of all those caring for patients served by WHHT. This will include junior medical staff, members of the multidisciplinary team in liaison with health promotion professionals.
• Clinical research is encouraged within the Trust and sufficient time is allowed within the proposed consultant work schedule to enable the post holder to undertake research projects in his/her area of interest.
• Excellent communication with a wide variety of colleagues will be essential to fulfil the role.
• Managerial skills development will be available to the postholder.

Person specification:

Education and qualifications:

• MB BS or equivalent
• FRCS or equivalent
• Eligible for full GMC registration
• Membership of ABS

Knowledge:

• Experience and demonstrable skill in management of symptomatic and screen detected breast cancers in outpatient and surgical setting
• Ability to take responsibility for clinical care of patients with appropriate escalation to consultant
• A commitment to teaching, both clinical and operative skill
• Commitment to CME/CPD
• An understanding of the audit and its use to drive service improvement
• An awareness of risk management and clinical governance process
• Understanding of the process of appraisal and revalidation
• Evidence of involvement in audit in previous posts
• Basic management and organisational skills
• Demonstrate an interest and ability to develop the advertised area of interest

Experience:

• Experience and demonstrable skill in management of symptomatic and screen detected breast cancers in outpatient and surgical setting
• Advanced IT skills including the use of word processing, spreadsheets and database software
• Knowledge of breast oncoplastic and reconstruction techniques
• An understanding of/and involvement in research
• Ability to apply relevant research to clinical problem
• Publication of relevant clinical research papers

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire. As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.