Medical Officer

BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY MEDICAL UNIT

Medical Officer

The British Antarctic Survey, part of the Natural Environment Research Council / UKRI is responsible for the UK’s scientific research in Antarctica.  The survey’s medical unit is based in Plymouth, and University Hospital’s Plymouth NHS Trust is looking to appoint a number Doctors to work in Antarctica.

To meet our requirements you must be a fully registered medical practitioner, at least 3yrs + post qualification. If you are currently in training, some Deaneries/Specialities allow successful applicants to keep their training numbers and view BASMU time as out of programme experience (OOPE). We consider Doctors from a variety of backgrounds and levels of experience. Appointment periods are in the range of 4-23 months’ depending on location and operational / logistic requirements. For over-wintering posts on a research station it is likely to entail 6 months training in Plymouth followed by a 12 to 17 month deployment. Position as ships Doctor has usually been a deployment period of 8 months after training.

There is a huge amount of organisational development and expansion at the moment at BAS, which means that we have to be reactive and flexible. So there could be changes in any of the deployments for the next few seasons particularly, to meet operational demand. This range of appointments will start on 1 May 2022 onwards depending on the particular position in question.

Following training in the UK you will be responsible for the health care of all personnel on one of the research stations or ships, reporting to the Senior Medical Officer in Plymouth where supervision and advice is available on a 24 hours basis via telemedicine links. The complete programme of training, clinical responsibility and research is designed to enable doctors to obtain a Certificate, Diploma or Master of Science degree in Remote and Global Health Care, awarded by the Peninsula Graduate School for Antarctic deployments or undertake another distance learning programme of choice. To date, returning Doctors have moved back into a wide range of posts; from standard training in ED, surgery, medicine, radiology, paeds’ e.t.c to continuing a career in remote environments.

You must be physically fit for Antarctic deployments.  To be suitable, you will likely enjoy outdoor activities, have a sense of adventure and be willing to spend a long period overseas within a small community.  These posts offer exciting opportunities in a fascinating area of the world which has been described at the last true wilderness.  Doctors develop communication and interpersonal skills and expertise in unusual areas of medicine. Standard UK/EU work permit regulations apply.

The salary is £50,017 per annum. Travel, accommodation, meals, clothing and specialist equipment is provided during the deployment south therefore the bulk of salary is saved alongside advantageous tax conditions for those that remain south through the winter period.  NHS Pension rights are preserved as employees of Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust.

For further details and application forms please contact:

Mr M Dinn, Remote Health Care Manager, British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit, Emergency Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH. Telephone: 01752 315220.

To apply, please contact email via the apply click button (preferred route of enquiry).

Closing date for completed applications: Tuesday 1 October 2021.

Provisional interview period, mid  November 2021.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is an equal opportunities employer.

Working in Partnership with the Peninsula Medical School.