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Anaesthetics Recruitment

Anaesthetics jobs
in the NHS

The largest single hospital medical specialty in the UK — and one of the most persistently under-filled. Ava Medical places consultant anaesthetists, SAS doctors and senior trainees in substantive NHS posts across general theatres, cardiac, neuro, paediatric and pain medicine.

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Free for candidates Permanent roles only 50+ NHS trusts
Anaesthetics NHS Permanent Roles
Consultant salary£105,504 – £139,882
SAS / Specialty Doctor£59,175 – £95,400
Training grade (CT2–ST7)£49,909 – £70,425
Sub-specialties7+
Free for doctors 50+ NHS trusts

About the specialty

Anaesthetics careers in the NHS

Anaesthetics combines procedural mastery, acute physiology and the ultimate clinical responsibility for patient safety. The NHS has over 12,000 consultant anaesthetists — yet workforce shortfalls are widespread, particularly outside major cities.

Training pathway

Entry via the Anaesthesia Core Training (ACT) programme at CT1/CT2, or through the Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS). Higher specialty training runs ST3–ST7, culminating in the FRCA (Final) and CCT in Anaesthetics. A joint ICM CCT is available for those completing the dual Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine programme. Total training from CT1 is typically seven years.

Typical employers

Anaesthetists work across all NHS acute trusts — from small district general hospitals with a handful of consultants to large university hospital departments with 100+ consultants delivering cardiac, neuro, paediatric, obstetric and liver transplant programmes. Pain medicine specialists may be based in dedicated pain clinics or community settings. Independent sector hospitals also employ NHS-contracted anaesthetists.

Grades we recruit

Ava Medical recruits Consultants (CCT or CESR-equivalent), Specialty Doctors and Associate Specialists across the full anaesthetics spectrum. We also assist senior ST6–ST7 trainees approaching CCT date. Dual-CCT holders in Anaesthetics and ICM are in particularly high demand — we work with both populations.

NHS pay scales 2025/26

Anaesthetics salary expectations

Pay scales below reflect the England 2025/26 position. On-call supplements and additional programmed activities (PAs) are common in anaesthetics and can add meaningfully to base salary. Private practice sessional income is available at many trusts.

Grade Contract Base salary range Notes
Consultant 2003 Consultant Contract £105,504 – £139,882 On-call supplement and additional PAs common; CEAs available
Specialty Doctor (SAS) 2021 SAS Contract £59,175 – £95,400 Enhanced pay spine with distinction award; on-call supplements apply
Associate Specialist Legacy / 2021 SAS £83,945 – £111,199 Closed grade; post-holders on protected terms
Specialty Registrar CT2–ST7 Junior Doctor Contract £49,909 – £70,425 Frequency supplement for out-of-hours; London weighting applies

Salary figures are indicative and subject to annual review. Always confirm current rates with the employing trust. Source: NHS Employers 2025/26 pay circular.

Roles we recruit

Anaesthetics sub-specialties

Anaesthetics offers one of medicine's broadest sub-specialty landscapes. We recruit across every major area — from theatre-based procedural roles to community pain services.

General Anaesthesia

DGH and teaching hospital consultant posts covering general theatre lists, acute take and on-call. The largest single group of vacancies in NHS anaesthetics.

Cardiac Anaesthesia

Cardiac surgical anaesthesia and peri-operative care at regional cardiac centres. High demand; candidates need FRCA plus documented cardiac caseload and TOE competency.

Neuro-anaesthesia

Anaesthesia for intracranial, spinal and interventional neuroradiology procedures. Tertiary neuroscience centre posts — usually combined with general theatre duties.

Obstetric Anaesthesia

24-hour labour ward cover, maternal critical care and complex obstetric lists. Separate sub-specialty with OAA accreditation and high vacancy rates at busy maternity units.

Paediatric Anaesthesia

Neonatal to teenage patients at dedicated children's hospitals and district units with paediatric surgical lists. RCPCH/RCoA dual interest pathways available.

Pain Medicine

Interventional and multidisciplinary chronic pain clinics, inpatient acute pain services. An increasingly consultant-led specialty with growing community provision.

Why Ava Medical

Why anaesthetists choose Ava Medical

  • Specialty-level understanding. We know the difference between a DGH general anaesthesia post and a tertiary cardiac unit role — theatre lists, on-call frequency, private practice rights, and ICM cross-cover expectations all factor into our matching process.
  • FRCA and overseas qualification support. We guide overseas-trained anaesthetists through GMC registration, CESR portfolio assembly, and navigating the RCoA's equivalence assessment processes. We have placed anaesthetists from across Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Dual CCT pathway advice. Doctors completing joint Anaesthesia/ICM training have distinct career options — we help you decide whether to pursue a pure anaesthetics consultant post or a combined ICM/anaesthetics role, and find the right trust for your goals.
  • Ahead of the public market. NHS trusts contact Ava Medical before posting on NHS Jobs. Your profile reaches clinical directors and medical staffing teams before the vacancy is public — significantly reducing competition.
  • Honest, personal service. Jack Mann, Ava Medical's founder, brings more than ten years in NHS recruitment, having overseen the placement of thousands of doctors. Senior anaesthetics searches receive direct personal attention — not a junior resourcer reading a template.
  • Completely free for doctors. CV review, interview prep, contract negotiation guidance and registration support — all free. The hiring NHS trust pays all fees.

Pay & conditions

What you can earn

Consultant basic pay (2026/27). NHS consultants in England earn £113,565–£150,569 on the 2003 contract. Wales runs higher — up to £166,585 — and Scotland to £148,064, each on its own national scale.

Most consultants earn well above basic pay through on-call availability supplements, additional programmed activities, clinical excellence & impact awards, and the NHS Pension Scheme — one of the most valuable defined-benefit pensions in the UK. Source: BMA consultant pay scales, 2026/27.

Explore more

Related NHS roles

Browse other specialties we recruit for, or see every current vacancy on the live board.

Common questions

Anaesthetics recruitment FAQ

You require full GMC registration with a licence to practise, and either a CCT in Anaesthetics (awarded by the JRCPTB on completion of ST3–ST7 training and the FRCA Final) or a CESR. Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register in anaesthetics is mandatory before taking up a consultant post. For sub-specialty posts in cardiac, neuro or paediatric anaesthesia, additional credentialing or documented case experience is typically expected by the appointing trust.
Yes. The CESR route allows overseas-trained anaesthetists to demonstrate equivalence to the UK CCT standard. You assemble a portfolio of evidence mapped against the 2021 RCoA/FICM anaesthetics curriculum — covering domains including procedural competency (airway, regional, vascular access), clinical assessment, leadership, and teaching. Evidence can include logbooks, workplace-based assessments, supervised learning events, and appraisal reports. Ava Medical can connect you with CESR-experienced consultants and advise on evidence gaps and GMC submission requirements.
DGH posts typically offer a broader general anaesthetics workload — covering general surgical, orthopaedic, obstetric and emergency lists — alongside a manageable on-call rota and, often, more clinical autonomy. Teaching hospital roles may involve more complex cases (cardiac, neuro, liver transplant, major vascular) but come with greater sub-specialty demands, busier rotas, and more management or academic expectations. Pay is governed by the same national contract, but teaching hospitals may offer more private practice opportunity. The right fit depends on your sub-specialty interest and lifestyle priorities.
NHS consultant anaesthetists are often expected to contribute to an out-of-hours on-call rota. The 2003 Consultant Contract allows for additional programmed activities (PAs) beyond the standard 10, which are paid at the same rate as regular PAs. Consultants covering a 1-in-8 or busier rota may earn an additional £8,000–£18,000 per year in on-call supplements. SAS doctors on the 2021 contract also receive frequency-of-on-call supplements. Specific on-call expectations should be confirmed during job planning discussions before accepting an offer.
Not always — the majority of NHS anaesthetics consultant posts do not require a dual CCT in ICM, particularly in DGHs. However, some teaching hospital units and smaller DGHs with combined anaesthetics and level 2/3 ICU responsibilities may preference or require ICM experience. If you hold a dual CCT in Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine you will have access to both anaesthetics and ICM consultant posts, significantly broadening your options.

Ready for your next anaesthetics role?

Upload your CV or browse live NHS anaesthetics vacancies. Our service is completely free for doctors — all fees are paid by the hiring trust.

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Questions? Email jack@avamedical.co.uk or call 07814 506719