Consultants working in O&G are senior doctors who have completed their O&G medical training in a specialised area.
The majority of consultants work in both obstetrics and gynaecology and have one or more special interests. This is recognised by their inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register, although specialist registration is not a legal requirement for consultant posts in foundation trusts. While they work clinically, they also have administrative and leadership responsibilities.
There are a number of different types of consultant, reflecting local service demands:
- Some consultants will work across the specialty within a hospital setting, but will concentrate their practice on particular interests
- Some consultants will focus in a subspecialty field and will work predominantly within either obstetrics or gynaecology
There is flexibility within consultant roles. After appointment, you may develop new expertise and modify your clinical practice accordingly throughout your career. Find out more about applying for a consultant post in the UK.
Whilst academic staff have an honorary consultant post within an NHS trust, their primary appointment is with their university.
For further information, please see the RCOG guidance on the ‘roles and responsibilities of a consultant’.