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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 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) [9]
    • Consultant ENT Surgeon Special interest in Paediatric ENT

      Birmingham, B15 2TH

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant ENT Surgeon Special interest in Paediatric ENT job (opens in a new window) [10]
    • Senior Clinical Fellow in Paediatric Colorectal Surgery

      London, SW10 9NH

      Salary:
      £41750.00 to £64288.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Clinical Fellow in Paediatric Colorectal Surgery job (opens in a new window) [11]
    • 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) [12]
    • 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) [13]
    • Paediatric Audiologist

      London, E15 4PT

      Salary:
      £42939.00 to £50697.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Barts Health NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • 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) [15]
    • Paediatric Consultant

      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 job (opens in a new window) [16]
    • Paediatric Matron

      Aylesbury, HP21 8AL

      Salary:
      £53755.00 to £60504.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Matron job (opens in a new window) [17]
    • Locum Consultant in General Surgery (Emergency Surgeon)

      Stevenage, SG1 4AB

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Locum Consultant in General Surgery (Emergency Surgeon) job (opens in a new window) [18]
    • Specialist Paediatric Audiologist

      Oxford, OX3 9DU

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [19]
    • Paediatric Gastroenterology CNS

      Brighton, BN2 5BE

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Gastroenterology CNS job (opens in a new window) [20]
    • Senior Paediatric Audiologist

      Birmingham, B4 6NH

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [21]
    • 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) [22]
    • 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) [23]
    • 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) [24]
    • 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) [25]
    • 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) [26]
    • Paediatric Consultant Anaesthetist

      Plymouth, PL6 8DH

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Consultant Anaesthetist job (opens in a new window) [27]
    • Specialist Paediatric Audiologist

      Walsall, WS2 9PS

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [28]
    • 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) [29]
    • Senior Paediatric Audiologist

      Derby, DE22 3NE

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [30]
    • Lead Paediatric Audiologist

      Scunthorpe, DN15 7BH

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Lead Paediatric Audiologist job (opens in a new window) [31]
    • Paediatric Music Therapist

      Cambridge, CB20QQ

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Music Therapist job (opens in a new window) [32]
    • Housekeeper - Paediatric Outpatients

      Chesterfield, S44 5BL

      Salary:
      £24169.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Housekeeper - Paediatric Outpatients job (opens in a new window) [33]
    • Paediatric Ward Clerk

      York, YO31 8HE

      Salary:
      £24169.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Ward Clerk job (opens in a new window) [34]
    • Paediatric Dietetic Assistant

      Winchester, SO225DG

      Salary:
      £24625.00 to £25674.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Dietetic Assistant job (opens in a new window) [35]
  • These organisations have further information about being a paediatric surgeon, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.

    British Association of Paediatric Surgeons [36]

    Royal College of Surgeons [37]

    Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh [38]

    Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow [39]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Paediatrician [40]
  • General surgery [41]
  • Dermatology [42]
  • Knowledge and library services [43]

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/C9284-25-0369 [10] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C0020-25-1048 [11] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9289-25-0143 [12] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9164-25-1173 [13] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9156-25-0329 [14] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9259-25-1329 [15] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0377-25-0033 [16] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9249-25-0280 [17] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9434-25-0679 [18] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9361-25-0414 [19] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9321-25-0749 [20] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9279-25-1139 [21] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9284-25-0376 [22] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9337-25-2711 [23] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9279-25-1219 [24] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/U0024-25-0036STO [25] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9262-25-0797 [26] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9205-25-0947 [27] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9216-25-0757 [28] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9407-25-0214 [29] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9271-25-0420 [30] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9320-25-0792 [31] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9208-25-0431 [32] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9180-25-0415 [33] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9166-25-0327 [34] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9419-25-0607 [35] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9251-25-0482 [36] http://www.baps.org.uk [37] http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/ [38] http://www.rcsed.ac.uk [39] http://www.rcpsg.ac.uk [40] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/paediatrics/paediatrician [41] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/surgery/general-surgery [42] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/dermatology [43] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/health-informatics/roles-health-informatics/knowledge-and-library-services