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Paediatric surgery

Paediatric surgeons work with young patients – from premature and unborn babies to children and young adults up to the age of 19.

You’ll have a very varied and sometimes unpredictable workload including surgery, attending outpatient clinics and hospital ward rounds and looking after both your young patients and their families. 

Surgeon in operating room

Life as a paediatric surgeon 

You’ll carry out more general forms of surgery such as abdominal, trauma or transplantation surgery, as well as specialist procedures such as neonatal [1] surgery, often for congenital abnormalities. You might also perform complex surgery on children with disabilities to improve their quality of life.

Just over 10% of operations on children are carried out by paediatric surgeons with the majority being performed by other specialist surgeons in fields such as orthopaedic, plastic and ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgery. 

Some consultants have an interest in fields such as paediatric orthopaedics or neurosurgery, but they come from these surgical training routes, rather than paediatric surgery. You’ll work in partnership with these colleagues, either in dedicated children’s hospitals or in paediatric surgical units within larger hospitals.

You’ll also attend outpatient clinics and ward rounds where you’ll meet your patients and their parents or carers. An important part of your work will be reassuring and advising concerned parents and carers which can be rewarding as well as emotionally demanding.

Your clinical workload will mainly cover day cases. The amount of emergency surgery and on-call work you’ll do is relatively low compared to other specialties.

How much can I earn?

You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training [2] after medical school.  Find out details of current salary ranges for foundation and specialty training, SAS doctors [3] and consultants on the 'Pay for doctors' [4] page. 

How about the benefits?

  • make a difference
  • flexible and part-time working
  • high income early in your career
  • work anywhere in the world
  • excellent pension scheme
  • good holiday entitlement
  • NHS discounts in shops and restaurants

Must-have skills

  • excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families
  • emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
  • teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
  • problem-solving and diagnostic skills
  • outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
  • first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
  • a high degree of manual dexterity
  • superb hand-eye co-ordination, excellent vision, and visuospatial awareness
  • physical stamina to cope with the demands of surgery

Entry requirements 

Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.

If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.

You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.

Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circumstances could be considered as part of your application.

"An early rotation in general surgery provided me with the opportunity to help with operations. I loved the work and also enjoyed working alongside such dedicated and hard-working colleagues and decided to pursue a career in surgery."

Read Kathryn's story [5]. 

What are my chances of starting a career in paediatric surgery?

In 2021, there were 205 paediatric surgeons working in the NHS in England. In addition, there were 80 applications for 12 specialty training places. 

How to become a paediatric surgeon

After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme [6] where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.

After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training [7] to become a paediatric surgeon, which will take a minimum of eight years.  

You may be able to train part time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.

Where a career as a paediatric surgeon can take you

You could:
  • specialise or conduct research in areas such as neonatal [1] surgery, paediatric urology, and paediatric oncology [8]
  • teach medical students or postgraduate students in training 
  • get involved in research at universities, the NHS or private sector
  • Find a vacancy

    • Consultant Paediatric Surgeon

      Bristol, BS2 8BJ

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Paediatric Surgeon job (opens in a new window) [9]
    • Consultant in Paediatric Surgery

      Birmingham, B4 6NH

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant in Paediatric Surgery job (opens in a new window) [10]
    • Locum Consultant in Paediatric Surgery

      London, SE1 7EH

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Locum Consultant in Paediatric Surgery job (opens in a new window) [11]
    • Consultant in Paediatric Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery

      Norwich, NR4 7UY

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant in Paediatric Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery job (opens in a new window) [12]
    • Clinical Fellow in Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Sept 26

      OXFORD, OX3 9DU

      Salary:
      £70425.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Clinical Fellow in Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Sept 26 job (opens in a new window) [13]
    • Clinical Psychologist in Cleft and Paediatric Plastic Surgery

      Nottingham, NG5 1PB

      Salary:
      £53755.00 to £60504.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Clinical Psychologist in Cleft and Paediatric Plastic Surgery job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • Locum Consultant Surgery - Vascular & Endovascular Surgeon

      Truro, TR1 3LJ

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Locum
      Employer:
      Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Locum Consultant Surgery - Vascular & Endovascular Surgeon job (opens in a new window) [15]
    • Consultant in ENT with Interest in Paediatric & Adult Airway Surgery

      Cardiff, CF14 4XW

      Salary:
      £110240.00 to £160951.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant in ENT with Interest in Paediatric & Adult Airway Surgery job (opens in a new window) [16]
    • Paediatric Audiologist

      Norfolk, NR1 1AA

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Outpatient Network
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [17]
    • Paediatric Audiologist

      High Wycombe, HP11 2TT

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [18]
    • Paediatric Pharmacist

      Southampton, SO16 6YD

      Salary:
      £47810.00 to £54710.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Pharmacist job (opens in a new window) [19]
    • Paediatric / Sister

      Salisbury, SP2 8BJ

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric / Sister job (opens in a new window) [20]
    • Paediatric Audiologist

      Dunstable, LU4 0DZ

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [21]
    • Paediatric Audiologist

      London, N15 3TH

      Salary:
      £42939.00 to £50697.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Whittington Hospital NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [22]
    • Paediatric Audiologist

      Watford , WD17 3EW
      St Albans, AL1 3JE
      The Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1LD

      Salary:
      £22.47
      Type:
      Bank
      Employer:
      NHS Professionals Limited
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [23]
    • Locum Consultant in HPB Surgery/General Surgeon

      London, E1 1FR

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Locum
      Employer:
      Barts Health NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Locum Consultant in HPB Surgery/General Surgeon job (opens in a new window) [24]
    • Consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Knee Surgery

      Manchester, M13 9WL

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Knee Surgery job (opens in a new window) [25]
    • Locum Consultant Surgeon in Oral & Maxillo Facial Surgery

      London, E9 6SR

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Locum Consultant Surgeon in Oral & Maxillo Facial Surgery job (opens in a new window) [26]
    • Senior Paediatric Audiologist

      Crawley, RH11 7DH

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [27]
    • Bank - Consultant - Paediatrics

      Essex, SS0 0RY

      Salary:
      £100.00 to £110.00
      Type:
      Bank
      Employer:
      Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Bank - Consultant - Paediatrics job (opens in a new window) [28]
    • Specialist Paediatric Dentist

      London, SW10 9NH

      Salary:
      £96990.00 to £107155.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Paediatric Dentist job (opens in a new window) [29]
    • Paediatric Deputy Sister

      Brighton, BN2 5BE

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Deputy Sister job (opens in a new window) [30]
    • Community Paediatric Audiologist

      Stockport, SK2 7JE

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      HealthHarmonie
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Community Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [31]
    • Paediatric Play Specialist

      Stoke On Trent, ST4 6QG

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Play Specialist job (opens in a new window) [32]
    • Consultant in Paediatrics

      Whitehaven, CA28 8JG

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant in Paediatrics job (opens in a new window) [33]
    • Paediatric Outpatient Administrator

      York, YO31 8HE

      Salary:
      £24937.00 to £26598.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Outpatient Administrator job (opens in a new window) [34]
    • Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist

      Cardiff, CF14 4XW

      Salary:
      £110240.00 to £160951.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist job (opens in a new window) [35]
    • Trust Registrar Paediatrics

      Whitehaven, CA28 8JG

      Salary:
      £49909.00 to £61825.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Trust Registrar Paediatrics job (opens in a new window) [36]
    • Senior Paediatric Audiologist

      London, WC1N 3JH

      Salary:
      £54320.00 to £60981.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [37]
    • Senior Paediatric Audiologist

      London, NW10 7NS

      Salary:
      £42939.00 to £50697.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [38]
    • Paediatric Audiology Lead

      High Wycombe, HP11 2TT

      Salary:
      £53755.00 to £60504.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Audiology Lead job (opens in a new window) [39]
    • Clinical Psychologist - Paediatrics

      Wakefield, WF1 4DG

      Salary:
      £47810.00 to £54710.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Clinical Psychologist - Paediatrics job (opens in a new window) [40]
    • Private Paediatric Coordinator

      London, W2 1NY

      Salary:
      £35964.00 to £43780.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Private Paediatric Coordinator job (opens in a new window) [41]
    • Paediatric Diabetes Educator

      Southampton, SO16 6YD

      Salary:
      £29970.00 to £36483.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Diabetes Educator job (opens in a new window) [42]
    • Resident Doctor Paediatrics

      London, W1W 5AH

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      HCA Healthcare UK
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Resident Doctor Paediatrics job (opens in a new window) [43]
    • Paediatric Consultant Radiologist

      Swindon, SN3 6BB

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Consultant Radiologist job (opens in a new window) [44]
  • These organisations have further information about being a paediatric surgeon, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.

    British Association of Paediatric Surgeons [45]

    Royal College of Surgeons [46]

    Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh [47]

    Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow [48]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Paediatrician [49]
  • General surgery [50]
  • Dermatology [51]
  • Knowledge and library services [52]

Source URL:https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/surgery/paediatric-surgery

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Neonatal [2] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Foundation_training [3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/career-opportunities-doctors/sas-doctors [4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/pay-doctors [5] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/surgery/paediatric-surgery/real-life-story-miss-kathryn-evans [6] https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/ [7] https://specialtytraining.hee.nhs.uk/ [8] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Oncology [9] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9387-25-1274 [10] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9284-25-0369 [11] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9196-25-1251 [12] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9234-25-0397 [13] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9321-25-0872 [14] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9164-25-1173 [15] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9156-25-0329 [16] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9001-25-0548 [17] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0377-25-0033 [18] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9434-25-0728 [19] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9188-25-0616 [20] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9269-25-0310 [21] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9418-25-0787 [22] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9220-25-0438 [23] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/M0042-82749 [24] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9259-25-1541 [25] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9349-25-2056 [26] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9293-25-0266 [27] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9150-25-0452 [28] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9390-25-1404 [29] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9289-25-0139 [30] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9279-25-1219 [31] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/U0024-25-0036STO [32] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9205-25-0947 [33] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9262-25-0797 [34] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9419-25-0633 [35] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9001-25-0544 [36] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9262-25-0935 [37] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9271-25-0420 [38] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9337-25-2738 [39] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9434-25-0736 [40] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9377-25-0205 [41] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9290-25-0874 [42] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9188-25-0596 [43] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0115-25-0101 [44] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9249-25-0303 [45] http://www.baps.org.uk [46] http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/ [47] http://www.rcsed.ac.uk [48] http://www.rcpsg.ac.uk [49] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/paediatrics/paediatrician [50] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/surgery/general-surgery [51] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/dermatology [52] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/health-informatics/roles-health-informatics/knowledge-and-library-services