Job overview

Recruiting Sir Hugh Cairns Complex Spinal Surgery Fellow
The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel
Start Date: 2026 or 2027 (flexible)
Salary: The salary is based on your nodal point on the MN37 payscale. The banding for this job is currently 50%. 
We are recruiting for both 2026 and/or 2027 fellowships.

WeCare about excellence
Barts Health NHS Trust is offering an outstanding Senior Complex Spinal Surgery Fellowship — the Sir Hugh Cairns Fellowship — approved by the Royal College of Surgeons. This unique 12-month post provides in-depth experience across both neurosurgical and orthopaedic spinal disciplines, working with a team of internationally recognised spinal surgeons at one of Europe’s busiest Major Trauma Centres.
You’ll join a world-class spinal service managing trauma, metastatic spinal cord compression, complex infection, and acute degenerative conditions. With 18 Complex Spine and Neurosurgery consultants, 50 dedicated neurosurgical beds, state-of-the-art theatres, and close links to the London Air Ambulance, this is an opportunity to advance your surgical, academic, and leadership skills in a high-volume, high-acuity setting.

Main duties of the job

What you’ll gain:
•    Operative exposure across the full spectrum of complex spinal surgery.
•    Active participation in weekly Complex Spine MDTs and monthly M&M meetings.
•    Protected time for teaching, audit, and service improvement.
•    Mentorship to strengthen your portfolio for consultant applications (CCT/CESR support).

What we’re looking for:
•    GMC registration with licence to practise.
•    MBBS or equivalent, MRCS (essential), FRCS (desirable).
•    Senior neurosurgical experience (ST8/Post-CCT or equivalent).
•    Demonstrated interest in complex spine surgery.
•    Commitment to multidisciplinary teamwork, teaching, and academic activity.

Why Barts Health?
•    One of the UK’s busiest Major Trauma Centres and home to the London Air Ambulance.
•    Close integration with UCLPartners and the Blizard Institute for cutting-edge research.

For further information or an informal discussion, please contact
Mr Suresh Pushpananthan – Consultant Neurosurgeon
[email protected]
 (0203) 59 41196

Mr Jonathan Bull – Consultant Neurosurgeon
[email protected]
(0203) 59 41196

Working for our organisation

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.  

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.  

Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.  

We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.