MEDICAL SPECIALIST GRADE 1 TO 3 (GENERAL SURGERY) (SESSIONAL) (20 HOURS PER WEEK)

This is a sessional (20 hours per week) Medical Specialist post in General Surgery, based at Karl Bremer Hospital within the Northern/Tygerberg Sub-structure of Metro Health Services. The position is a 12-month contract and is graded as Medical Specialist Grade 1, 2 or 3 depending on the successful candidate’s level of relevant post-registration experience. The role sits within the hospital’s General Surgery service, contributing to clinical care, teaching and service improvement across the full spectrum of surgical practice, with a particular focus on the endoscopy service.

To be eligible, applicants must hold an appropriate qualification that permits registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Medical Specialist in General Surgery, and must be registered with the HPCSA in that category. The required experience depends on the grade: Grade 1 requires no post-registration experience, Grade 2 requires at least five years of appropriate experience as a Medical Specialist after registration, and Grade 3 requires at least ten years of such experience. A valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel are inherent requirements of the post. The ideal candidate will have solid clinical experience in general surgery, including endoscopy and laparoscopic surgery, and must demonstrate strong interpersonal skills with staff, patients and families. Excellent clinical note-keeping, referral writing, verbal and written communication, and analytical and problem-solving skills are essential, as is the capacity to manage a large clinical workload with sound clinical and academic judgement.

The core duties involve delivering specialist-level clinical services across the entire general surgery spectrum, with an emphasis on the endoscopy service. The successful candidate may also be required to perform surgical procedures in theatre, conduct consultant ward rounds, and make senior decisions about patient care, including disposition planning and oversight of outpatient department services. Clinical governance forms a key part of the role: the specialist will be responsible for accurate medical record keeping, data and trend analysis, contributing to morbidity and mortality meetings, managing complaints, and using existing digital platforms for referrals and patient-related documentation. Teaching and training are also central, including supervision and instruction of junior doctors and participation in the hospital’s academic programme. In addition, the postholder is expected to contribute to improving internal systems within the General Surgery service, both at Karl Bremer Hospital and across the broader Metro East health ecosystem, and to participate in the wider clinical and administrative management of medical services where reasonable and feasible.

Candidates who do not yet have the stipulated registration may still apply, provided they submit proof of application for registration with the relevant council and proof of payment of the prescribed registration 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. Enquiries for this position are directed to the named medical official at the hospital, and the post is advertised under the relevant provincial circular.