Neurosurgical Endoscopic Pituitary and Skull Base Fellowship

Neurosurgical Endoscopic Pituitary and Skull Base Fellowship

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Applications are invited to apply for the post of Neurosurgical Skull Base Fellow based at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. This RCS accredited clinical fellowship is intended to allow a senior neurosurgical trainee to obtain experience over twelve months in the management of skull base, pituitary and facial pain pathologies. This post will provide experience sufficient to allow a successful fellow to offer himself/herself for appointment to a substantial consultant position.

Surgeons preparing to work as consultants must be intimately involved with the running of the neurosurgical service and in providing some element of continuity of care for the patients since this will be an integral part of their practice as consultants. The Fellow will therefore participate in the general neurosurgical rota, and will also be expected to share responsibility for the neurosurgical patients in their area of sub specialist interest outside of strict rota commitments.

This position is available from early September 2025.

Main Duties of the Job

The trainee will be given experience in the following broad areas:

1. The assessment and investigation of patients with skull base / pituitary lesions and facial pain pathology. The operative experience is extensive, e.g. the fellow will be expected to perform 60 to 80 pituitary surgeries as lead surgeon by the end of the fellowship.
2. The opportunity to conduct research and publish papers in peer-reviewed journals.
3. The participation in regular multi-disciplinary meetings involving colleagues from various specialties including endocrinology, skull base ENT, neurology/oral medicine and surgery, pain, neuropathology, oncology and clinical nurse specialists. There is a weekly combined pituitary MDM, 3-4 monthly skull base MDMs, a monthly complex facial pain MDM (St Thomas'), a monthly NF-1 and a monthly NF-2 clinic (both held at Guy's).
4. The fellow will be expected to attend one or two national/international meetings each year and present abstracts, COVID permitting.
5. Regular progress meetings, formal as well as informal, will be held during the fellowship with the fellowship lead. This Senior Clinical Fellowship was the first to be awarded RCS accreditation in Skull Base and Pituitary Neurosurgery in the country and the successful fellow will be awarded the Royal College of Surgeons Certificate at a ceremony following successful completion of the fellowship.

About Us

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Job Responsibilities

The fellows' duties will consist of care of patients on the wards, assistance in the operating theatre, attendance at appropriate clinics and a close collaboration with the clinical nurse specialists is expected. He is also expected to conduct regular reviews of appropriate literature and clinical data.

The fellow will be second on call, 1 in 6, with two junior colleagues, as part of the general neurosurgical rota.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

• Eligible for registration with the GMC
• MB BS (or equivalent)
• FRCS (Neurosurgery) or equivalent
• PhD, MD (original research)
• Within 12 months of awarding of CCT
• Experience in trauma neurosurgery
• Exposure to skull base neurosurgery
• Commitment to a career in skull base neurosurgery

Skills/Knowledge/Ability

• Knowledge and experience in elective and emergency neurosurgery
• Ability to prioritise clinical need
• Evidence of participation and active involvement in an audit project/research
• Experience and ability to work in multi-professional teams
• Understanding of clinical risk management
• Ability to organize him/herself in a busy department
• Previous publications/presentations

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.

Salary: £59,175 to £95,400 a year plus London allowance.