Locum Consultant Neurosurgeon in Spine | University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

University College London Hospitals is seeking to appoint a Locum Consultant Neurosurgeon in Spine, with a specific remit of both complex and general degenerative spinal conditions. The post will be based in the Victor Horsley Department of Neurosurgery at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square.

The Department of Neurosurgery provides a comprehensive elective and emergency neurosurgical service for the Trust, a large area of North Central and West London and its associated hospitals and the local community/GPs. In addition there are large numbers of National and International referrals to specialist Neurosurgical services.

Our multidisciplinary teams work at the forefront of clinical practice, research and innovation, offering exposure to a wide range of subspecialties including neuro-oncology, skull base surgery, vascular neurosurgery, functional neurosurgery, epilepsy surgery, spinal surgery, pituitary surgery, and Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery. Working at Queen Square provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with internationally renowned clinicians, academics and allied health professionals within one of the largest neuroscience centres in Europe.

The Locum Consultant’s job plan will comprise the equivalent of 8.5 PAs Direct Clinical Care (DCC) and 1.5 PAs Supporting Professional Activities (SPA). The Programmed Activities related to direct patient care follow a team-based approach. The part of the job plan related to wider departmental activities, supporting professional activities and personal objectives is more individually tailored. Supporting Professional Activity (SPA) includes CPD and revalidation, teaching and training, audit, quality improvement, governance and appraisal preparation.

This post holder will participate in the neurosurgery general on-call service (which is approximately 1 in 15). The job plan below will factor in predictable and unpredictable PAs associated with the on-call.

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.

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

This post will complement the existing Complex Spine Service, a nationally and internationally renowned tertiary referral service.

Spinal services experience some of the longest waiting times for treatment, particularly for patients with degenerative spinal pathology. This post will make a direct contribution to the recovery and maintenance of elective waiting time standards, including Referral to Treatment (RTT). The post holder will therefore be expected to support the timely assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients in line with national and constitutional standards.

The primary focus of the post will be the management and treatment of both complex and general

degenerative spinal conditions. The role will be centred on delivering high-quality care for patients with degenerative spinal pathology while also contributing to the development and expansion of spinal endoscopy services within the department.

Low-volume, high-complexity spinal conditions, including cervical deformity, spinal tumours, and intradural pathology, will remain outside the remit of this post.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

*UCLH top trust to work at in England- In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH 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 third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff – To find out more, visit:Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?

This advert closes on Wednesday 23 Sep 2026