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University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Contact
- Address
- Trust Headquarters
- 250 Euston Road
- London
- NW1 2PG
- Contact Number
- 0845 1555 000
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open_in_new JobsClinical Fellow in Fetal Surgery
Closed for applications on: 12-May-2025 00:01
Vacancy status: Closed
Closed for applications on: 12-May-2025 00:01
Key details
Location
- Site
- UCLH
- Address
- 235 Euston Road
- Town
- London
- Postcode
- NW1 2BU
- Major / Minor Region
- London
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (due to limited funding)
- Hours
- Full time - 40 hours per week (there is no out-of-hours commitment with this post)
Salary
- Salary
- £61,825 per annum + London weighting
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS Medical & Dental: Local Appointment nodal point 4 (MT04))
Specialty
- Main area
- Maternity
The use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it, then they are required to declare this in their supporting statement.
Job overview
A 12-month, full-time funded post as a Fetal Surgery Research Fellow is available at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and University College London (UCL) starting in October 2025.
The Centre for Prenatal Therapy is a multidisciplinary collaboration of fetal medicine specialists, anaesthetists, obstetricians, paediatric surgeons, midwives, and theatre nurses dedicated to advancing fetal surgery in the UK. The Centre pioneered open fetal surgery in the UK in partnership with Professor Jan Deprest and UZ Leuven and is a hub for research innovation within the UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health. It collaborates closely with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and KU Leuven, with the option of a Double PhD scheme between UCL and KU Leuven.
UCLH and UZ Leuven are specialist NHS England-commissioned Fetal Surgery Centres for open spina bifida, providing a high-quality service since 2019. Over time, open fetal surgery has evolved from formal hysterotomy to mini-hysterotomy. Fetoscopic spina bifida repair is also offered through a research program. The Centre collaborates with UK spina bifida charities and provides fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), complex fetal anomaly care, and various invasive fetal procedures.
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Clinical Duties
Comprehensive training in all clinical aspects of the role will be provided. The postholder will receive fetal ultrasound training at the Obstetric Ultrasound Unit and the Fetal Medicine Unit at UCLH, where they will hold an Honorary Contract. Additionally, there will be opportunities to gain further clinical fetal surgery experience at UZ Leuven, Belgium.
Routine clinical responsibilities will include:
1. Coordinating spina bifida patient referrals, appointments, assessments, and imaging.
2. Managing the FETO service, including patient referrals, appointments, assessments, and imaging.
3. Overseeing fetal surgery cases and patient follow-up.
4. Collecting and analyzing data related to patient referrals, assessments, treatments, outcomes, and patient experiences.
Research Activities
The role focuses on clinical fetal surgery research, particularly in conditions such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and spina bifida. Key research areas include evaluating the implementation and outcomes of fetal surgery, fetal imaging, analyzing patient cohort outcome data, and exploring novel predictors of fetal surgery success, such as preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and preterm birth. Patient acceptability of fetal interventions will also be studied.
Working for our organisation
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.
The Fellow will contribute to the development of the Fetal Surgery Service, focusing on CDH and fetoscopic spina bifida repair, while continuing to monitor fetal surgery outcomes. They are expected to pursue a PhD at UCL Institute for Women’s Health, with opportunities for research in fetal surgery and the option to participate in the Double PhD scheme with KU Leuven.
The post involves participation in ongoing translational research projects in fetal therapy at UCL, in collaboration with KU Leuven, Belgium. The postholder will receive training in research methodologies, including literature reviews, ethics and consent processes, data collection and analysis, academic writing, and publication.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the second year in a row.
UCLH top trust to work at in England – for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.
At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.
We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.
Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage’s staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.
We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.
We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.
This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.
Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.
Please note that if you are at present in a training position on the 2016 new junior doctor’s contract and are applying for a Trust doctor role your salary will not be pay protected.
You will be placed on the appropriate point of the Trust Doctor pay scale based on your previous experience.
Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.
The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Full GMC Registration
Desirable criteria
- Mrcog Part 1
Experience
Desirable criteria
- Research experience
Skills and Abilities
Desirable criteria
- Ultrasound scanning
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Gemma Bearcroft
- Job title
- Medical Staffing Officer
- Email address
- [email protected]
No longer accepting applications
Sorry, this vacancy is no longer accepting applications.
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