About this role
Job summary
Wirral Academic Surgical Programme Fellowship
Applications are invited for the highly regarded Wirral Academic Surgical Programme, which was shortlisted for the NIHR West Coast Research Awards in 2025.
This established and successful programme has an excellent track record in supporting fellows to progress to higher surgical training. To date, 27 fellows, including both UK and international graduates, have secured National Training Numbers, alongside the award of 22 ChM degrees.
These fellowship posts offer an exceptional opportunity for ambitious surgical trainees to strengthen their portfolio in a supportive, structured, and academically rich environment, while maximising their chances of successful entry to higher surgical training.
Main duties of the job
About the Fellowship
These posts are designed for candidates who have completed Core Surgical Training or are working at Specialist Registrar level and are seeking a National Training Number.
Fellows are employed as General Surgery Registrars and rotate through Upper GI, Colorectal, and Emergency Surgery. The post includes participation in a 1:13 on-call rota, with salary at ST3 level.
We are committed to providing broad clinical experience within a supportive training environment.
We recognise the challenges trainees face in securing higher surgical training posts. This fellowship offers added value through:
- enhanced clinical exposure
- protected academic development
- structured research opportunities
- formal educational qualifications
Why Apply?
The Wirral Academic Surgical Programme offers
- a proven route to higher surgical training
- high-quality registrar-level clinical experience
- protected research time
- funded postgraduate qualifications
- a supportive academic environment
Fellows benefit from a strong academic structure, working at 0.8 WTE with 2 PAs dedicated to research. Study and annual leave are equivalent to Deanery trainees.
This fellowship is ideal for motivated trainees aiming to strengthen their portfolio and progress their surgical careers.
Posts commence in August 2026.
About us
All new colleagues can expect to receive a warm and friendly Wirral welcome from the very first time they make contact with us. We are described as "competent and caring staff" by our patients.
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is situated on The Wirral peninsula which has a stunning coastline and beautiful countryside surroundings, with great activities for its residents.
We are one of the largest and busiest acute Trusts in the North West of England, comprising of the Wirral's only Emergency Department. We provide a high quality range of acute care services and employ over 6,000 staff, who serve a population of approximately 400,000 people across Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Neston, North Wales and the wider North West footprint.
We have approximately 855 beds trust-wide and our financial turnover is in excess of £337m.
The Wirral is easily accessible with excellent transport links including motorway, train, bus or ferry and within easy reach to the major cities of Liverpool, Chester and Manchester as well as neighbouring North Wales.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached Job Description for further information about the Research Fellows position available at WUTH.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Academic Achievements
Essential
- Qualified medical practitioner registered with GMC
Desirable
- Distinctions, prizes, awards, scholarships, other degrees, higher degrees Presentations Publications MRCS holder
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of completion of Foundation Year training (or equivalent)
Desirable
- Experience at CST or SHO level in a surgical specialty
Training
Essential
- Evidence of completion of Foundation Year training (or equivalent)
Desirable
- Competence in pre-operative and postoperative management Computer skills Evidence of participation and understanding of the principles of audit
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Caring attitudes
- Honesty
- Ability to work in a team
- Trustworthy and reliable
- Understand and communicate intelligibly with patients in English
- Organisational Ability
- Potential to cope with stressful situations and undertake reprehensibility
- Behave in a manner which establishes professional relationships with patients
- Ability to make good judgements under pressure
- An ability to undertake complex decision making
Desirable
- Leadership potential
- Initiative
- A critical enquiring approach to the acquisition of knowledge
Practical Requirements
Essential
- Be physically and mentally fit and capable of partaking in operative procedures that may last a number of hours. Ability to organise and produce typed documentation efficiently To be able to retain, learn and apply a large knowledge base
- To be able to retain, learn and apply a large knowledge base
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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
Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Wirral University Teaching Hospital
Arrowe Park Road
Upton
CH495PE
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.wuth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)