Locum consultant in picu

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: PICU Locum Consultant

Start Date: 2nd September 2026

Contract Type: Fixed term

Duration: 11 months

Purpose for Fixed Term: Covering Maternity Leave

Applications are invited for a Locum Consultant post in Paediatric Intensive Care at Southampton General Hospital commencing September 2026 for 11 months to cover maternity leave.

It is essential for the post-holder to have significant experience in paediatric cardiac surgery, renal replacement therapies, advanced ventilatory support (including inhaled nitric oxide & extracorporeal life support), management of severe traumatic head injuries, complex patients with multiple organ failure, and critical care transport medicine.

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help achieve the career you aspire to. We offer flexible working, NHS discounts, a minimum of 35 days paid holiday pro rata, a generous pension scheme, and flexible working arrangements. Southampton offers a lower living cost than London, excellent schools, proximity to the New Forest and Jurassic Coast.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

Southampton PICU is a 16-bedded intensive care unit delivering comprehensive services for all sub-specialties for the Wessex Region. The regional PIC retrieval service is delivered in collaboration with Oxford University Hospital. In 2025/26, there were 800 admissions to UHS with 350 level 3 retrievals and 250 transport episodes.

All types of cardiac interventional procedures are carried out, with approximately 300 cardiac operations performed each year. UHS PICU has consistently one of the lowest SMRs and highest throughputs per bed of any PICU in the UK.

We are a regional ECMO centre and offer VV and VA ECMO for respiratory and cardiac support. We are the Wessex paediatric major trauma centre with a dedicated paediatric emergency department on site.

The successful applicant will be part of the Consultant Team for PICU and will be involved in clinical sessions in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and covering the Southampton Oxford Retrieval Team at Southampton Children’s Hospital.

Clinical Duties

The case mix includes general PICU with support for paediatric subspecialty services: paediatric cardiology & cardiac surgery, paediatric neurology & neurosurgery, paediatric nephrology, haematology/oncology, respiratory, gastroenterology, infectious diseases/immunology, endocrinology, paediatric surgery, general paediatrics and trauma. Consultants manage patients in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and cover the regional retrieval service as second on call consultant.

Training and Research Duties

Post-holder will participate in medical governance, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, research and continuing medical education.

Undergraduate medical students from Southampton University Medical School are taught throughout the Trust, including paediatric tutorials, personal academic tutor roles, and supervising medical student projects.

The post-holder will also teach postgraduate staff, advanced care practitioners, nurses and other disciplines as appropriate, and serve as educational and clinical supervisor for some resident doctors, with training available.

Administrative Duties

Post-holder will undertake administrative duties associated with patient care and running clinical departments, relying on shared secretarial support and office space.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Training & Experience

Essential criteria

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• GMC registration with a licence to practise
• Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems
• MRCPCH/FRCA or equivalent
• Valid Level 3 Safeguarding Training
• Valid APLS Training
• Completion of all competencies in Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine (minimum 2 years indicative time) in a unit approved for training by the RCPCH National GRID Training Programme with signed‑off evidence, and a minimum of six months of anaesthetic training or on GMC register with subspecialty PICM via CESR/Portfolio pathway, or equivalent training, or existing substantive Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine
• Experience in management of congenital heart disease including cardiac ECMO
• Extensive experience in transporting critically ill children (land)
• Trauma experience
• Teaching and training experience
• Experience of cardiac intensive care
• Experience of general intensive care
• Experience of critical care transport
• Experience of critical care outreach/trauma team/cardiac arrest team member

Desirable criteria

• On the GMC’s Specialist Register for paediatrics/anaesthetics or within six months of CCT at interview
• Valid NLS Training
• Higher degree, laboratory‑experienced research
• Education/teaching qualification
• Completion of training in anaesthetics – approved by RCoA
• Experience in managing respiratory ECMO patients
• Experience of air transport

Aptitudes & Skills

Essential criteria

• Evidence and ability to work effectively in multi‑professional teams
• Understanding of equality and diversity and how this affects patients, visitors and staff
• Evidence and ability to communicate and liaise effectively with patients and colleagues (verbal and written communication skills in English)
• Demonstrate good organisational skills including ability to prioritise effectively and meet deadlines
• Demonstrate the ability to be calm, compassionate and respond efficiently to rapidly changing circumstances
• Evidence of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
• Good manual dexterity and ability to perform complex practical procedures

Desirable criteria

• Active interest in training and education
• Previous involvement in research, either investigator lead or multicentre trials

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Working Together
• Always Improving

Additional Information

Proposed interview date: 17th July 2026. This vacancy closes on or before 2nd July 2026.