Consultant in Thoracic Surgery

Job summary

The thoracic surgery service attracts national referrals for specialist complex surgery in both adults and children. Between the Royal Brompton, Harefield and Evelina sites we offer a wide range of thoracic treatments and perform in excess of 2,000 cases each year. We are the designated centre for sarcoma in London and the South East, seeing a range of metastatic, primary and chest wall disease.

We have a strong record for performing VATS, and particularly, single port VATS lung resections. Since the arrival of a Da Vinci Xi robot on the Brompton site in 2025, followed by a Da Vinci 5 on the Harefield site in 2026, we have rapidly developed a busy RATS programme. We perform a large number of interventional bronchoscopies, with both rigid and fibre-optic techniques.

The Thoracic Surgery Department is currently expanding in response to the forecasted activity increase following the introduction of Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC). TLHC pilot schemes are already underway offering low-dose CT scans to those assessed as high risk.

It is expected that we will see stage migration with more patients diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer in our lung MDMs, this will contribute to the national ambition for 75% of cancers to be diagnosed at Stage 1 and 2 by 2028. As a result of the programme, there will be a higher proportion of patients who are suitable for curative treatment, in particular a higher number of thoracic surgery cases.

Main duties of the job

Provide High Quality Care to Patients o The post-holder must be medically qualified and maintain GMC specialist registration, hold a licence to practice and fulfill the requirements for revalidation. o To develop and maintain the competencies required to carry out the duties required of the post. o To ensure patients are involved in decisions about their care and to respond to their views.

Leadership and Team Working o To demonstrate excellent leadership skills with regard to individual performance, clinical teams, the Trust and when participating in national or local initiatives. o To work collaboratively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and Kings Health Partners as required.

Performance Management o To work with medical, nursing and managerial colleagues to ensure high performance in the following areas: o Clinical efficiency e.g.

LOS reductions, reducing cancelled operations and DNA rates. o Quality of outcomes e.g. infection control targets, reducing re-admission rates. o Financial management e.g. identification, implementation and achievement of cost improvement programmes and participating in efforts to ensure services are provided cost effectively. o Operational efficiency e.g. waiting list activity and meeting cancer treatment targets.

About us

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation. We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts.

We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark. Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals joined Guy's and St Thomas' in February 2021 and is the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe.

We provide treatment for people with heart and lung disease, including rare and complex conditions, offering some of the most sophisticated treatment that is available anywhere in the world.

Our integrated approach to caring for patients from before birth, through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood and old age has been replicated around the world and has gained Royal Brompton and Harefield an international reputation as a leader in heart and lung diagnosis, treatment and research.

We strive to recruit and retain the best staff as the dedication and skills of our employees lie at the heart of our organisation and ensure that our services are of the highest quality, safe and focused on our patients.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the JD for the job plan. Applicants are encouraged to view the Directorate and discuss the post.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

Essential

Full GMC registration. Entry on the GMC specialist register (or within six months by the date of interview). FRCS CTh or equivalent qualification. CLINICAL EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Essential

Comprehensive experience in both elective and emergency thoracic surgery. Previous appointments in recognised high quality thoracic surgery units. Proven competency as an independent operator in specialised techniques that will enhance the existing departmental skill set e.g. VATS lobectomy, radical surgery for mesothelioma and emergency airways management using interventional bronchoscopy and laser Credentialed training in robotic thoracic resections and recent clinical experience of this. Evidence of ability to lead a clinical team at the level of consultant.

Desirable

Credentialed training in robotic thoracic resections. Paediatric thoracic surgical experience. RESEARCH AND AUDIT:

Essential

Proven research experience / peer reviewed publications in thoracic surgery subjects. Understanding of the principles and applications of clinical audit, research and medical statistics. Experience in academic supervision and leadership.

Desirable

Evidence of audit activity / publications in thoracic surgery topics. TEACHING

Essential

Experience of undergraduate and/or postgraduate teaching and training Senior leadership experience in delivering and coordinating regional or above post-graduate or under- graduate surgical training

Desirable

Evidence of quality in previous teaching (formal student feedback exercises etc.) Familiarity with the FRCS CTH exam curriculum.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) . From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).