Locum Consultant Bariatric & Upper GI Surgeon
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
The closing date is 12 June 2026
Applications are invited for the post of a Locum Bariatric and Upper GI Surgeon at Colchester Hospital, part of the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust (ESNEFT). This fixed‑term post supports the ESNEFT Complex Obesity Service, which integrates medical and surgical pathways, and aids elective recovery for Upper GI and General Surgery patients (including 52‑ and 65‑week breaches).
This is a rare opportunity for an enthusiastic and dynamic candidate to be part of a multi‑disciplinary team developing a new Complex Obesity Service and guide its future direction. Candidates would need to have a commitment to teaching and would have received training in advanced laparoscopic surgery. A candidate with a track record of publication would be ideal.
This role will enable the candidate to gain familiarity with the inner workings of the department and to provide an opportunity to apply for and succeed in obtaining the substantive consultant post which we plan to recruit for.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will help support elective recovery by undertaking Upper GI and General Surgery activity to reduce long‑wait pathways, including 52‑week and 65‑week breaches.
The candidate would be expected to contribute to the overall work of the Department of General Surgery and take part in general surgery emergency daytime on‑call, weekdays and weekends (currently 1 in 24) and out of hours on‑call rota which will be on a 1 in 24 basis. They would also take part in a 1 in 3 bariatric on‑call rota.
Job responsibilities
General
* Work with colleagues to provide a Consultant‑led service with the highest standard of care
* Work with the multi‑professional team to develop care pathways and clinical guidelines
* Develop and maintain good working practices with wards, out‑patients and the ED
* Collaborate and promote close working links with colleagues, other departments and primary care
* Offer educational, clinical support and leadership to junior medical colleagues, nursing colleagues and other members of the multi‑disciplinary team
* Ensure appropriate information is made available to staff to measure clinical performance and enable meaningful benchmarks to be established and evaluated within your area of responsibility
* Ensure there is a robust process for reviewing the quality of services provided, explaining the causes of success and failure and ensure the highest standards are maintained
* Provide a role model of professional leadership which underpins the corporate values and behaviours agreed by the organisation
* Ensure that junior doctors training conforms to College requirements
* Participate in the appraisal of medical staff within the department in line with the Trusts policy
* Become part of the ICENI teaching faculty in delivering or facilitating courses/programmes
Clinical
* Provide on‑call cover as a general surgeon
* Provide on‑call cover as a bariatric surgeon
* Provide specialist upper GI elective services including bariatric surgery
Contribute elective Upper GI and General Surgery activity to support elective recovery and reduce 52‑ and 65‑week breaches.
Person Specification
* Full registration with the General Medical Council
* FRCS or equivalent
* Entry in the GMC Specialist Register or a UK higher surgical trainee within 6 months of CCT date at interview
* Completed a recognised bariatric fellowship or enrolled in one with evidence of a minimum of 25 sleeve gastrectomy procedures and a minimum of 50 gastric bypass procedures
* Training and experience in advanced hiatal and biliary laparoscopic surgery including fundoplication
* Specialist training in General Surgery
* Full JAG accreditation in upper GI endoscopy
* Experience in acute general surgery
* Experience of postgraduate and undergraduate teaching
* At least 6 years at higher surgical training level (or equivalent)
* Ability to lead and work as part of multi‑disciplinary team
* Ability to organise and prioritise work effectively and be involved in the organisation of the department
* Good written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate effectively with patients, colleagues and all levels of staff
* Must be able to travel to meet requirements of post and be within 30 minutes of the hospital when on call
* Willingness to work across ESNEFT sites to deliver benign Upper GI and Complex Obesity Service activity
* MD/MS/PhD or equivalent
* Evidence of having undertaken audit work that has brought about change
* Evidence of having undertaken original research
* Formal training in management
* Formal training in teaching
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.
Benefits
* Flexible working options considered in line with service needs
* Generous pension scheme
* Unsocial hours payments where applicable
* 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata)
* Access to a range of NHS discounts
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
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