Medical Officer Grade 1 to 3 (CARDIOTHORACIC Surgery)

Overview

Medical Officer Grade 1 to 3 in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, requiring HPCSA registration as a Medical Practitioner.

Requirements

• Minimum educational qualification: Appropriate qualification that allows registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Medical Practitioner.
• Registration with a professional council: Registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner.
• Experience: Grade 1: None after registration as Medical Practitioner with the HPCSA in respect of SA qualified employees. 1-year relevant experience after registration as Medical Practitioner with a recognized foreign Health Professional Council in respect of foreign qualified employees, of whom it is not required to perform Community Service as required in South Africa.
• Grade 2: A minimum of 5 years’ appropriate experience as Medical Practitioner after registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner in respect of SA qualified employees.
• A minimum of 6 years’ relevant experience after registration as Medical Practitioner with a recognised foreign Health Professional Council in respect of foreign qualified employees, of whom it is not required to perform Community Service as required in South Africa.
• Grade 3: A minimum of 10 years’ appropriate experience as a Medical Practitioner after registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner in respect of SA qualified employees.
• A minimum of 11 years’ relevant experience after registration as Medical Practitioner with a recognized foreign Health Professional Council in respect of foreign qualified employees, of whom it is not required to perform Community Service as required in South Africa.
• Inherent requirements of the job: Commuted overtime is compulsory.
• Participate in after-hours call roster for the general cardiothoracic surgery service.
• Competencies (knowledge/skills): Proven ability to manage cardiothoracic surgical patients.
• Sound clinical judgement in the peri operative and post-operative management of adult cardiac and thoracic surgery patients.
• Competence in ward-based patient care, emergency assessment, escalation of care, and coordination with ICU and theatre teams.
• Ability to work independently under senior supervision and to contribute effectively to a consultant led service.
• Capacity to manage service demands, including after hours emergencies and time critical referrals.
• Computer literacy, with the ability to maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to service audits.
• Understanding of the operational challenges of public health care delivery, transformation, equity, and service sustainability.
• Ability to function effectively in a high-pressure clinical environment is essential.
• Completion of Internship and Community Service.
• Previous experience in General Surgery and ICU.

Duties

• Delivery of day to day clinical services within the Cardiothoracic Surgery service of the Chris Barnard Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
• Comprehensive inpatient ward management, including admissions, daily reviews, discharges, and coordination of care.
• Participation in theatre lists and assistance with operative procedures as required by service demands.
• Management of emergency cardiothoracic referrals and after hours clinical responsibilities.
• Participation in outpatient clinics and pre operative patient assessment.
• Contribution to morbidity and mortality meetings and service audits as required.
• Upholding professional, ethical, and patient centered standards of care.
• Clinical workload includes ward management, peri operative care, emergency consultations, outpatient clinics, and assistance in theatre.
• High service burden with exposure to complex adult cardiac and thoracic pathology typical of a tertiary referral centre.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online via www.westerncape.gov.za/health-jobs (click “online applications”).

Enquiries: Prof Timothy Pennel, Email: tim.pennel@uct.ac.za

Notes

No payment of any kind is required when applying for this post. Candidates who are not in possession of the stipulated registration requirements, may also apply. Such candidates will only be considered for appointment on condition that proof of application for registration with the relevant council and proof of payment of the prescribed registration fees to the relevant council are submitted on or before the day of the interview. This concession is only applicable on health professionals who apply for the first time for registration in a specific category with the relevant council (including individuals who must apply for change in registration status)”. Groote Schuur Hospital has adopted the department’s ecosystem framing of its training platform. Accordingly, all medical officer appointments may be called upon to work across this platform and may include rotations at Metro West and Rural East hospitals. This includes Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, New Somerset Hospital, Mitchells Plein District Hospital, Victoria Hospital and George Provincial Hospital. Please ensure that you attach an updated CV. The post is primarily service delivery orientated, with limited protected time for academic or research activities. It will be expected of candidates to be available for selection interviews on a date, time and place as determined by the Department. Kindly note that excess personnel will receive preference. All shortlisted candidates, including the SMS, shall undertake two pre-entry assessments. One will be a practical exercise to determine a candidate’s suitability based on the post’s technical and generic requirements and the other must be an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment. ERRATUM: Kindly note that the advert for the Post 28/215: Assistant Director: Expenditure Analysis and Management Reporting, Salary R487 197 per annum, Centre: Head Office (Cape Town) advertised in the Public Service Vacancy 28 dated 07 August 2026 with Ref No: 28/215. Kindly note that the post has been cancelled. OTHER POSTS