Faculty / program leadership: Muhammad Dherijha · John Leach
Profile completeness89%
Comprehensive · Source does not publish funding, application deadline
DECISION SUMMARY
Key facts at a glance
Eligibility
International route mentioned
Funding
Not published
Deadline
Not published
Duration
12 months (2026 post, with possible extension). The 2024 combined post was 12 months: 6 months in Spinal Surgery and 6 months in Spinal Neurosurgery.
Hands-on
Unclear — confirm privileges
Clinical exposureDescribed as the largest spinal surgery unit in the UK (12 spinal consultants of orthopaedic or neurosurgical background, plus spinal neurosurgeons within MCCN) at a Major Trauma Centre. It covers idiopathic and acquired deformity, metastatic disease, neuro-navigation and intra-operative CT, a daily dedicated spinal emergency list, and optional paediatric deformity exposure at RMCH. The combined post adds spinal neurosurgery: navigation, neuromonitoring, cranio-cervical junction, intradural tumours and MIS.
Participation levelClinical participation and hands-on restrictions must be confirmed directly with the host.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT CHECK
Can an international surgeon apply?
≈Partially published
International applicants
Applicants needing Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome (2026 advert).
?Confirm directly with host
Clinical role
Clinical or combined training pathway; exact duties remain appointment-specific. Hands-on participation and operative restrictions are not explicitly published.
≈Partially published
Medical registration
GMC registration with a licence to practise.
—Not published
Language
No formal language requirement is published by the cited source.
≈Partially published
Visa or work authorisation
Applications from job seekers requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome. Overseas applicants must supply criminal record certificates.
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY55% of core application fields verifiedChecked 3 Oct 2026 · Next scheduled editorial review: 2027-04-01
✓ programme title✓ institution / department✓ city and country✓ programme classification✓ subspecialty✓ current status evidence✓ duration✓ benefits✓ registration✓ application process✓ application portal✓ verified institution logo✓ official source✓ institutional source✓ accreditation / organisation source✓ verification date— positions · historical evidence only— commencement / intake · historical evidence only— Funding information not published · historical evidence only— accommodation / relocation · queued for source review— eligibility · historical evidence only— international eligibility · historical evidence only— Language requirement not published · queued for source review— visa / work authorisation · historical evidence only— Current deadline not yet published · historical evidence only— required documents · not published by the cited official source— official contact · historical evidence only— Faculty information requires reverification · historical evidence only— Verified faculty photograph not available · queued for source review
APPLICATION TIMELINE & CONTACT
Plan the application
Application deadlineNo current deadline published in the cited evidence
Commencing dateAugust (the 2024 posts started 7 August 2024; the 2026 advert was for an August 2026 start)
Application route / cycleRecruitment runs through NCA NHS Jobs / Trac adverts, usually in spring for an August start. Dated: the 2026 advert was posted 16 March 2026 and is closed. In 2024 the combined posts were also offered to a successful national STIG candidate.
Experience as a neurosurgery or spinal orthopaedic registrar
NHS experience desirable
Application documents
NHS Jobs / Trac online application
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What this program offers
A 12-month senior spinal fellowship in the UK's largest spinal unit. The 2024 version combined 6 months of orthopaedic spinal surgery with 6 months of spinal neurosurgery, aligned with the JCST STIG programme.
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
Eurospine Surgical Spine Centre of Excellence (per the trust JD). Optional exposure to paediatric spinal deformity at RMCH.
HOST INSTITUTION
About Spinal Surgery & Neurosurgery, Salford Royal (Northern Care Alliance)
Salford Royal Hospital (Northern Care Alliance) hosts the Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences and a large combined spinal surgery and spinal neurosurgery service at the Greater Manchester Major Trauma Centre.
