MEDICAL OFFICER GRADE 1 TO 3 (ORTHOPAEDICS)

This position is for a Medical Officer in Orthopaedics at New Somerset Hospital, which falls under the Metro Health Services directorate of the Western Cape Department of Health. The role is structured at Grade 1, Grade 2, or Grade 3 depending on the applicant’s years of relevant experience after registration as a medical practitioner. It offers a competitive salary package with a portion that can be structured according to personal needs, and is part of the provincial health system’s ongoing efforts to deliver orthopaedic care in a busy hospital environment.

Candidates must hold a qualification that allows registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Medical Practitioner, and must be registered with the HPCSA. For South African qualified applicants, Grade 1 requires no post-registration experience, while Grade 2 requires at least five years and Grade 3 requires at least ten years of appropriate experience. Foreign qualified applicants who are not required to perform community service in South Africa need one, six, or eleven years of relevant experience for Grades 1, 2, and 3 respectively. In addition, a valid Code B/EB driver’s licence is required, along with a willingness to work overtime and to rotate across institutions on the platform. The ideal candidate will have appropriate experience in providing orthopaedic surgical services, the ability to function in a team under pressure in a high-volume, high-stress environment, computer literacy, and experience in research methodology.

The main duties include the full clinical spectrum of orthopaedic care. This means managing in-patients and out-patients, performing both elective and emergency operative procedures, and ensuring clinical governance by using resources such as laboratory investigations, medications, consumables and equipment rationally and cost-effectively. The post also carries teaching responsibilities, both formal and informal, to students, and requires active participation in innovation and research within the orthopaedic team. Leadership within the orthopaedic and hospital team is another key responsibility.

Notably, candidates who do not yet possess the stipulated registration requirements may still apply, provided they submit proof of application for registration with the relevant council and proof of payment of the prescribed fees on or before the day of the interview. This concession applies only to health professionals applying for the first time for registration in a specific category, including those who need to change their registration status. No payment of any kind is required when applying for this post. The closing date and application instructions are provided in the circular, and enquiries can be directed to the contact person named in the advertisement. This is an excellent opportunity for qualified medical practitioners seeking to specialise or advance in orthopaedic surgery within a public hospital setting.