About this role
Job summary
Join One of the South West's Leading Respiratory Teams
Are you an ambitious and patient-focused Respiratory Physician looking for an exciting consultant opportunity within a highly regarded and innovative respiratory department?
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Locum Consultant Respiratory Physician to join the acclaimed Somerset Lung Centre at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton. Applications are invited for a fixed term Locum Consultant Respiratory Physician post commencing in October 2026. This is an exceptional opportunity to work alongside a supportive team of eight experienced Respiratory Consultants within a service recognised for clinical excellence, teaching, research, innovation, and outstanding patient care.
Serving a population of approximately 350,000 people across West Somerset, our respiratory service combines district general hospital medicine with many specialist services more commonly found in tertiary centres.
The successful candidate will contribute to inpatient and outpatient respiratory services, respiratory ward care, acute medicine and multidisciplinary working. There will also be opportunities to develop specialist interests that complement existing services and support ongoing service development.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:
Deliver high-quality respiratory and acute medical care for inpatients and outpatientsParticipate in consultant-led ward rounds and specialist respiratory servicesContribute to outpatient respiratory clinics and MDT activitiesParticipate in the General Internal Medicine on-call rotaSupport education and training of junior doctors and multidisciplinary colleaguesParticipate in audit, governance, service development and quality improvement initiativesContribute to ongoing development of respiratory services across Somerset.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and lifeNHS pension scheme for long-term financial securityGenerous annual leave allowance to recharge and relaxA strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potentialAdditionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description Job responsibilities For further details regarding this job role and person specification please refer to the attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
MRCP (UK) or equivalent Registered as a specialist in respiratory medicine and General Internal Medicine with the GMC or will be eligible for inclusion as a specialist within 6 months of interview.
Desirable
MD or equivalent
Experience Essential
Comprehensive clinical experience in respiratory medicine, pleural diseases and lung cancer Understanding of clinical risk management Competent to work without direct supervision where appropriate Clear, logical thinking showing an analytical/scientific approach Ability to mentor staff both medical and nursing Extensive experience in respiratory and general internal medicine
Desirable
Independence in bronchoscopy including endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and pleural interventions such as indwelling pleural catheter insertion British Thoracic Society Thoracic Ultrasound Capability Level 5 Medical thoracoscopy experience; ability to train and sign off colleagues in thoracic ultrasound (as per BTS guidelines) Experience of clinical risk management
Additional Criteria Essential
Appropriate level of clinical knowledge Evidence informed practice Awareness of own limitations Ability to prioritise clinical need Ability to organise own workload Evidence of participation in audit Willingness to lead in developing/managing a clinical area Ability to work independently and safely Clear analytical and scientific thinking Ability to mentor medical and nursing staff Extensive experience in respiratory and general internal medicine
Desirable
Demonstrate breadth of awareness of issues Understanding of NHS, clinical governance & resource constraints; mgmt/financial awareness exp of committee work Active involvement in audit Information technology skills
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address Musgrove Park Hospital
Musgrove Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 5DA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)