Consultant in Anaesthetics with interest in Chronic Pain Medicine with certificate of sponsorship to the UK

Visa Note

This position includes a certificate of sponsorship for eligible international candidates. However, applicants must verify their visa/work permit eligibility directly with the employer before applying. The certificate of sponsorship does not guarantee visa approval, and applicants may need to meet additional requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration.

Job Details

Company: Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Job Title: Consultant in Anaesthetics with interest in Chronic Pain Medicine

Location: SWB NHS Trust, Grove Lane, Smethwick, B66 2QT

Salary: £109,725 to £145,478 per annum

Employment Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-time

Application Deadline: 05 March 2026

Reference Number: 381-SS-7637406

About the Organization

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWB) serves Birmingham and the Black Country – one of the country’s most culturally diverse areas. It’s a friendly and welcoming place where you can belong and grow. The Trust cares for patients, the population, and its people.

Our values – Ambition, Respect and Compassion – guide every step of how we work together, look after patients and their families, and respect the rich diversity of our team and community. Our purpose is to “Improve the Life Chances and Health Outcomes of our Population,” which inspires and unites us daily.

We want working at SWB to feel like more than just a job. We aim to create a place where you feel you belong, are happy, safe, and rewarded, and can develop your career in any way you choose. When we say we’re ‘with you all the way,’ we mean it.

Main Duties of the Job

The successful applicant will join a well-established department of 46 motivated and highly respected Consultant Anaesthetists, including 4 providing chronic pain services, supported by 14 experienced SAS doctors and trainees from both the Birmingham and Stoke Schools of Anaesthesia.

Consultants within the Trust work across Midlands Metropolitan University Hospital (MMUH), City Health Campus and Sandwell Health Campus, with theatre activity delivered on all 3 sites. Pain management services are primarily based at City Health Campus. The post holder will be expected to work flexibly across locations in line with service needs and their sub-specialty interests.

On-call commitments currently operate on a 1:16 rota at MMUH. The post is offered at 10 PAs, with the option to discuss additional sessions where appropriate. From a non-clinical perspective, expertise in areas such as medical education, simulation, service development, or risk management would be particularly valuable.

The post offers a 60:40 split between chronic pain and anaesthesia, with regular pain clinics and procedure lists. Anaesthetic sessions can be tailored to suit the applicant’s sub-specialty interests, with opportunities in areas such as Gynae-oncology, ENT, Colorectal, Orthopaedics and trauma, and Ophthalmology.

Position Overview

Chronic Medicine Component

This role involves 50-60% clinical activity in Chronic Pain Medicine, with the remainder in Anaesthesia. Responsibilities include regular pain clinics and interventions, participation in the Pelvic Pain MDT service, SMP programmes, and developing services such as a Transition Clinic. Established virtual clinics offer flexible working arrangements.

There are opportunities to support and train Advanced Pain Practitioners, with SPA time negotiable. Pain services are delivered at City Health Campus (Sheldon Block and BTC), with additional clinical PAs available at job planning. Up to 2.5 SPA PAs are available, plus strong support for professional development and leadership training.

Anaesthesia Component

The anaesthesia component includes sessions tailored to sub-specialty interest, with cross-site working at MMUH, City Health Campus and Sandwell Health Campus. The initial job plan is 10 PAs, with scope for additional PAs based on service needs and candidate preferences.

Role structure includes a non-resident 1:16 general on-call rota at MMUH, 7 clinical PAs over three full-day sessions, and 0.95 PA for on-call cover. Additional clinical PAs are negotiable, with up to 2.5 SPA PAs available for development, education, audit and leadership activities.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

Full GMC registration & licence to practice. Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetist (FRCA) or equivalent. Entry on the Specialist Register in Anaesthesia (or entry expected within 6 months from the date of interview). Completion of the Pain Medicine Special Interest Area (SIA) according to the 2021 Curriculum or equivalent training. Eligibility to work in the UK.

Desirable Qualifications

Additional Post Graduate Qualifications. Fellow of Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FFPMRCA).

Teaching and Training Experience

Essential: Ability to teach clinical skills to medical and nursing staff and other disciplines.

Desirable: Formal training in teaching. Higher qualification in medical education. Experience in Simulation Training.

Clinical Experience

Essential: Ability to prioritise clinical need. Experience of chronic pain management including interventional procedures. Clinical expertise in Pain Medicine including Multidisciplinary chronic pain management and chronic pain out-patient clinics. Ability to perform invasive CPM treatments. Ability to take full and independent responsibility for patient care and offer expert clinical opinion. Skills and experience in Anaesthesia appropriate for a consultant in District general hospital including Paediatric resuscitation. Clear, logical approach to clinical problems with appropriate level of clinical knowledge. Awareness of breadth of clinical issues.

Desirable: Experience of Acute Pain Management. Special interests that complement existing consultants. Advanced training in Major Surgery Anaesthesia. Experience in Peri-operative medicine. Experience in Enhanced recovery Methodology.

Professional Attributes

Essential: Ability to work well with colleagues and within a team. Effective communication with patients, relatives, colleagues, nurses, and allied health professionals. Ability to plan strategically and exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures. Energy and enthusiasm with ability to work under pressure. Caring attitude to patients. Commitment to Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development. Flexible and adaptive attitude. Punctual and reliable.

Desirable: Evidence of patient and colleague feedback. Defined leadership qualifications or experience. Demonstrates initiative in personal practice. Willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at a local level.

How to Apply

Apply Instructions: Apply via NHS Jobs website.

For International Applicants:

• Verify your visa/work permit eligibility with the employer before applying
• Prepare proof of GMC registration and relevant qualifications
• Include evidence of any required English language proficiency
• Be prepared to provide criminal record certificates from countries where you have lived for 12+ months in the past 10 years
• Contact Dr KP Krishnan for any questions about the position or sponsorship process

Additional Information

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website for overseas health professionals.

Employer Details

Employer Name: Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Address: SWB NHS Trust, Grove Lane, Smethwick, B66 2QT

Website: https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/

Contact Person: Dr KP Krishnan (Consultant Anesthetist)

Email: k.krishnan@nhs.net

Phone: 01215073415

Supporting Documents

The following supporting documents are available for download:

• Consultant in Anaesthetics WSI in Chronic Pain Medicine PS.pdf (PDF, 752 KB)
• Consultant in Anaesthetics WSI in Chronic Pain Medicine JD.pdf (PDF, 752 KB)

Privacy Notice

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust’s privacy notice can be viewed here.

Trust Accreditation

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust is proud to be accredited as:

• Age Positive
• Apprenticeships
• Disability Confident Employer
• Living Wage Employer
• MINDFUL employer
• Smoke free