OUR VALUES IN ACTION
●Care and Compassion ●Quality and Teamwork ●Dignity and Respect ●Openness, honesty and responsibility
Location: Borders General Hospital, Melrose, TD6 9BS
Hours: 2 sessions per week (0.2 WTE)
Grade: Consultant (although all grades considered)
Closing Date: 24th October 2025
Interview Date: TBC – Early November 2025
Are you passionate about improving the lives of people living with chronic pain? NHS Borders is seeking a dedicated and compassionate doctor to join our dynamic and multidisciplinary Chronic Pain Service at Borders General Hospital.
About the Role
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a well-established secondary care service that prioritises self-management, education, and holistic care.
You will:
Run outpatient clinics independently and jointly with other team members.
Participate in multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings and service development.
Contribute to patient group sessions and education programmes.
Engage in triage of referrals and formulation of individualised pain management plans.
About You
We welcome applications from doctors of all grades who:
Hold full GMC registration
Are enthusiastic about developing expertise in chronic pain management.
Demonstrate excellent communication, adaptability, and teamwork skills.
Formal chronic pain qualifications are not essential—apprenticeship-style learning and mentorship will be provided.
The Team
You’ll be joining a supportive MDT including:
Consultant Anaesthetist
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Physiotherapist
Occupational Therapist
Secretary
Newly developed Pharmacist post
Links with Pain Association Scotland
Why NHS Borders?
Located in the scenic Scottish Borders, our hospital offers excellent facilities, a strong educational programme, and a vibrant community. With easy access to Edinburgh via the Borders Railway, you can enjoy rural living with city convenience.
Interested?
Informal enquiries and visits are encouraged. Please contact:
Dr Jonathan Aldridge, Clinical Director – 01896 826322
Dr Shona Smith, Consultant Anaesthetist – 01896 826322
Chronic Pain Service Team – 01896 826323
Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes .
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.
As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here .
For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found here .
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
***PLEASE NOTE: We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early***
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.