General Surgeon

Job Purpose

• The Consultant, General Surgery will provide high-quality, patient-centred surgical care across elective and emergency services. The role holder will independently assess and manage patients within approved clinical privileges, undertake appropriate surgical procedures, provide consultant-level clinical leadership, support multidisciplinary care, and contribute to teaching, research, clinical governance, and the continuous development of the General Surgery service.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities

Clinical and Surgical Duties

• Provide consultant-level management of a broad range of elective and emergency general surgical conditions in line with approved clinical privileges and evidence-based practice.
• Conduct comprehensive patient assessments, establish diagnoses, develop and implement appropriate treatment plans, and provide continuity of care from admission through discharge and follow-up.
• Perform general surgical procedures independently within areas of demonstrated competence and approved clinical privileges, including the management of complex surgical cases.
• Lead and participate in outpatient clinics, ward rounds, theatre lists, emergency surgical reviews, and multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Provide specialist opinions and second opinions for complex surgical cases and determine appropriate treatment or referral pathways.
• Provide clear counselling to patients and families regarding diagnoses, treatment options, surgical risks, expected outcomes, and postoperative care, and obtain informed consent as appropriate.
• Provide appropriate peri-operative and postoperative management, including recognition and management of surgical complications.
• Participate in the consultant on-call rota and provide timely emergency surgical cover as required.

Clinical Leadership, Governance and Quality Improvement

• Provide clinical leadership within the General Surgery service and support the development of safe, efficient, and patient-centred surgical pathways.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive clinical documentation and ensure effective communication and handover of patient care.
• Comply with hospital policies, clinical protocols, infection prevention standards, ethical requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Lead and participate in morbidity and mortality meetings, clinical audits, incident reviews, and quality-improvement initiatives to improve patient safety and surgical outcomes.
• Contribute to the development and review of clinical pathways, standard operating procedures, and evidence-based surgical protocols.
• Support the appropriate utilisation of theatre capacity, surgical equipment, consumables, and other clinical resources.

Teaching, Research and Professional Development

• Provide clinical supervision, teaching, and mentorship to Registrars, Medical Officers, House Officers, medical students, and other members of the clinical team.
• Lead or contribute to departmental teaching sessions, case presentations, grand rounds, journal clubs, and continuing medical education activities.
• Participate in clinical research, service development, and scholarly activities, including presentations and publications where applicable.
• Maintain continuing professional development and remain current with advances in general surgical practice.

Qualifications

• MBBS, MBChB, or an equivalent medical degree from a recognized institution.
• Full registration with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) or the relevant medical regulatory authority in the country of practice, together with a valid practicing license and eligibility for licensure in Nigeria where applicable.
• Fellowship of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), West African College of Surgeons (WACS), or an equivalent internationally recognized postgraduate qualification in General Surgery.
• Minimum of 5 years of post-fellowship experience in General Surgery, with demonstrated competence in managing complex elective and emergency surgical cases.
• Demonstrated experience practicing independently at consultant or equivalent Specialist level in a reputable tertiary or specialist healthcare institution.
• Proven expertise in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of a broad range of general surgical conditions, including acute and complex presentations.
• Extensive experience performing a wide spectrum of open and minimally invasive surgical procedures, including advanced laparoscopic surgery, with the ability to independently manage complex surgical cases and postoperative complications.
• Evidence of proficiency in laparoscopic surgery, including procedures such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, hernia repair, and other advanced minimally invasive techniques relevant to General Surgery.
• Experience in providing clinical leadership, supervision, mentoring, and teaching to junior medical staff, residents, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Demonstrated contribution to clinical governance, quality improvement initiatives, patient safety programmes, and service development within surgical practice.
• Strong commitment to evidence-based practice, multidisciplinary collaboration, continuous professional development, and the delivery of high-quality patient-centered care.