Specialty Doctor Anaesthetics

Job Description

NHS Scotland:

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Who we are:

NHS Ayrshire and Arran are one of 14 territorial NHS Boards within NHS Scotland.

In support of our core purpose of Working together to achieve the healthiest life possible for everyone in Ayrshire and Arran, we are committed to a culture that is Caring, Safe, and Respectful. You will be required to work collaboratively in a safe, caring and respectful way. To find out more about NHS Ayrshire and Arran please visit our website – NHS Ayrshire & Arran – Home (nhsaaa.net)

Position:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialty Doctor Anaesthetics based at Univeristy Hospital Crosshouse. This post is offered on a one year fixed-term basis.

Hours:

44 hours per week.

From 1 April 2026, the working week for NHS Agenda for Change staff in Scotland will be reduced. Full-time hours will reduce from 37 to 36 hours (pro rata for part-time staff) without loss of earnings.

UK Driving Licence:

A UK driving licence is essential for this role.

What you will do:

The successful applicant will be joining a team of 44 Consultant Anaesthetists, 1 Specialist, 1 Associate Specialists, 15 SAS doctors, 20 Anaesthetists in training and 3 Anaesthesia Associates. NHSAA has two district general hospitals. UHA and University Hospital Crosshouse (UHC).

UHA has been developed as a centre of excellence for Elective Orthopaedics, Urology, General Surgery and Ophthalmology. There is an 8 bedded level 2 critical care unit which is staffed in hours by the critical care service with out of hours cover provided by the anaesthetists on the UHA site. You will have the opportunity to develop subspecialty interests including perioperative medicine, regional anaesthesia and critical care.

UHC has been developed as the regional trauma unit, in addition to all paediatric, obstetrics, gynaecology, maxillofacial & ENT services being located on that site. There is an 18 bedded Critical Care unit at UHC providing Level 3 beds.

The post will involve a full shift pattern on an 8 week rotation for emergency anaesthesia, hospital emergencies, input to critical care and inter-hospital transfer of critically ill patients from UHA to UHC who require an intensive care bed or transfer for tertiary care.

Appropriately experienced applicants must have Full Registration (with a Licence to Practice) with the General Medical Council, and have completed at least 4 years full-time postgraduate training, of which at least 2 years will have been within Anaesthesia.

Key points

• There is a wide range of teaching opportunities for postgraduate and undergraduate medical students from national and international universities using facilitated learning and simulation.

• Team members are supported to perform regional and national posts.

• We encourage and support our Specialty Doctors with the CESR process

• UHA has been recognised as the top performing orthopaedic arthroplasty theatre in Scotland.

• NHS Ayrshire & Arran have established a nationally recognised Medical Peer Support Programme with formally trained Mentors.

• UHA and UHC are situated within the greenbelt with easy access to the countryside. Both have free parking and cycling facilities.

UHA has a preschool nursery on site

Both UHC and UHA are easily accessed by road, with the M77 providing access to Glasgow within 30-45 minutes. Rail and Bus services also link Ayr and Kilmarnock to Glasgow and other surrounding towns. Prestwick Airport lies approximately a 15 minute drive away.

Both sites have free car parking facilities and active transport encouraged with on-site cycle storage and shower facilities.

Ayrshire is great place to live and work, with a great coastal location and wide open sandy beaches. This offers exciting leisure opportunities including water-based activities such as sailing, kitesurfing and paddle boarding. There are multiple championship golf courses in the region, and exceptional road and off-road cycling. The island of Arran is a ferry ride away for day trips or short breaks. It is a fantastic place to raise a family, with affordable housing and access to first-rate schools.

If you would like to find out more about the role, please contact Dr Chris Johnstone, Clinical Director Anaesthesia at , or alternatively Dr John Allan, Clinical Director Critical Care at , or alternatively Dr Sunny Bhatt. Deputy Clinical Director on alternatively Dr Ian Anderson, Deputy Clinical Director on alternatively Caroline Clark, General Manager, Surgical Services on .

RIGHT TO WORK / CERTIFICATES OF SPONSORSHIP

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found within the attached Candidate Information Pack.

It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran may be able to offer visa sponsorship for certain roles, provided the post meets the minimum salary threshold and any other required criteria. When considering if a post meets the salary threshold for sponsorship, please note the salary advertised is based on a full-time contract and must be pro-rated for part-time positions. Sponsorship is not guaranteed and is assessed on a case-by-case basis following interview and at the commencement of pre-employment checks. Please visit here for further information.

We are unable to provide sponsorship for Band 2 posts or bank contracts.

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