Official Role Overview
- Reference Number: LRH 02/2026
- Position: Head Clinical Unit: Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Department: Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Centre: Ladysmith Regional Hospital
- Province: KwaZulu-Natal
- Posts Available: 1
- Closing Date: 04 October 2026
Salary and Benefits
Salary
- Grade 1: R2 168 145 – R2 301 186 per annum
- Grade 2: R2 370 741 – R2 592 273 per annum
Benefits
- 70% basic salary
- 30% flexible portion, which may be structured in accordance with applicable rules.
Other Benefits - 13th Cheque
- Medical Aid: Optional
- 18% Inhospitable Area allowance
The Employer
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health operates the provincial public healthcare system and provides healthcare services through hospitals, clinics and other health facilities across KwaZulu-Natal.
Ladysmith Regional Hospital provides regional-level healthcare services and supports referrals from facilities within its drainage area.
The Head Clinical Unit will provide specialist clinical leadership within the hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology service while contributing to clinical governance, staff development, service planning, quality improvement and patient safety.
Purpose of the Role
The Head Clinical Unit: Obstetrics and Gynaecology will provide senior specialist clinical, operational and strategic leadership for the hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology service.
The successful candidate will oversee comprehensive specialist services covering antenatal care, labour ward services, obstetric theatre, inpatient and outpatient care, emergency gynaecology, high-risk obstetrics and complex referred patients.
The role also carries responsibility for clinical governance, quality improvement, workforce management, resource stewardship, referral coordination, teaching, research and after-hours specialist leadership.
Key Performance Areas (KPAs)
1. Specialist Obstetrics and Gynaecology Service Leadership
- Lead, plan, coordinate and monitor a comprehensive specialist Obstetrics and Gynaecology service.
- Antenatal services
- Labour ward
- Obstetric theatre
- Inpatient services
- Outpatient services
- Emergency gynaecological services
- Ensure effective coordination and continuity of specialist services.
- Monitor service delivery against hospital and departmental priorities.
2. Specialist Clinical Care
- Provide direct specialist care to patients.
- Provide expert consultation for high-risk, complex and referred patients.
- Ensure appropriate escalation of patients requiring higher levels of care.
- Promote continuity of care across the referral pathway.
- Apply advanced clinical expertise in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, including high-risk obstetrics, obstetric emergencies and complex gynaecological care.
3. Patient Safety and Clinical Governance
- Lead maternal, perinatal and gynaecological clinical governance activities.
- Coordinate and participate
- Morbidity and mortality reviews
- Patient-safety incident reviews
- Clinical audits
- Quality-improvement projects
- Ensure corrective actions arising from reviews and audits are implemented.
- Promote safe, evidence-based and patient-centred clinical care.
- Ensure compliance with approved policies, protocols and standard operating procedures.
- Promote effective multidisciplinary teamwork.
4. Referral, Outreach and Specialist Support
- Coordinate referral pathways within the hospital’s drainage area.
- Provide outreach and specialist support to district hospitals and other referring facilities.
- Maintain effective liaison with tertiary and central referral services.
- Support appropriate referral and escalation of complex patients.
- Provide specialist support to services within the uThukela District drainage area.
5. Operational Planning and Performance Management
- Develop and implement departmental operational plans.
- Establish and monitor service targets.
- Implement clinical risk-control measures.
- Develop performance-monitoring systems aligned with hospital and Departmental priorities.
- Monitor the effectiveness and quality of specialist service delivery.
- Identify operational risks and take appropriate corrective action.
6. Medical Workforce Management
- Manage and develop the medical workforce.
- Ensure appropriate deployment of medical staff.
- Develop and manage duty rosters.
- Provide clinical supervision and mentorship.
- Coordinate leave planning.
- Manage staff performance.
- Support succession planning.
- Promote effective utilisation and development of the medical workforce.
7. Teaching, Training and Research
- Promote undergraduate teaching and clinical education.
- Support continuing professional development.
- Facilitate skills transfer among healthcare professionals.
- Promote clinically relevant research.
- Mentor medical officers, interns, students and members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Strengthen specialist knowledge and clinical competencies within the department.
8. Resource Management
- Promote cost-effective stewardship of scarce healthcare resources.
- Ensure responsible management
- Medicines
- Blood products
- Equipment
- Consumables
- Theatre time
- Beds
- Other essential resources
- Identify critical resource risks.
- Escalate significant resource constraints promptly to appropriate management structures.
9. Management Reporting and Strategic Participation
- Participate in hospital senior-management activities.
- Contribute to strategic planning and institutional activities.
- Support district and provincial healthcare programmes.
- Prepare and submit accurate clinical and management reports within prescribed timeframes.
- Analyse clinical and service data to support decision-making.
- Present clear reports to hospital and district management.
10. After-Hours and Commuted Overtime Responsibilities
- Participate in the commuted overtime system.
- Provide after-hours consultant leadership according to service requirements.
- Ensure specialist clinical support is available when required by the service.
Minimum Requirements
Educational and Professional Requirements
- An appropriate Medical and Specialist qualification that allows registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Medical Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
- Current registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
- A valid driver’s licence.
Experience
- At least five years’ experience as a Medical Specialist after registration with the HPCSA in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Additional Relevant Experience - Clinical leadership and management of a regional or referral-level Obstetrics and Gynaecology service.
- Maternal and perinatal clinical governance.
- Teaching and training.
- Clinical research.
- Quality improvement.
- Medico-legal risk reduction.
- Outreach and referral services.
Knowledge and Professional Competencies
Clinical Knowledge
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
- High-risk obstetrics.
- Obstetric emergencies.
- Complex gynaecological care.
- Specialist clinical management of referred patients.
Legislative and Governance Knowledge
- Applicable health legislation.
- Public Service legislation.
- Relevant departmental policies.
- Clinical guidelines.
- Professional ethics.
- Patient-safety requirements.
- Clinical governance principles.
Leadership and Management Skills
- Leadership and supervisory ability.
- Mentorship and teaching capability.
- Strategic planning skills.
- Service-development skills.
- Resource-management skills.
- Communication skills.
- Negotiation skills.
- Conflict-resolution skills.
- Decision-making skills.
- Problem-solving skills.
- Ability to analyse clinical and service data.
- Ability to lead clinical audits and quality-improvement initiatives.
- Ability to prepare and present clear clinical and management reports.
Why Join Ladysmith Regional Hospital?
This is a senior specialist leadership opportunity for an experienced Obstetrics and Gynaecology Medical Specialist seeking to combine direct clinical practice with service leadership and clinical governance.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence maternal and perinatal outcomes, patient safety, specialist referral pathways, quality improvement, medical workforce development and regional healthcare service delivery.
The position also provides an opportunity to contribute to teaching, research, outreach and broader district and provincial healthcare programmes.
How to Apply
Required Documents
Applicants must submit the following
- The prescribed Z83 Application for Employment form.
- A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- The Z83 is obtainable from any Government Department or from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health website.
Only shortlisted candidates will be required to submit certified copies of the following
- Qualifications
- Other relevant supporting documents
- These documents must be submitted on or before the interview, following communication from Human Resources.
Important
- The reference number must be indicated in the designated section of the Z83 and on the back of the envelope where applicable.
- Failure to comply with the application instructions may result in disqualification.
Application Submission
Postal Applications
Human Resource Management
Ladysmith Regional Hospital
Private Bag X9928
Ladysmith
3370
Hand Delivery
Human Resource Offices
Ladysmith Regional Hospital
Office No. 15
36 Malcolm Road
Ladysmith
3370
For Attention: Mr S.L. Dlozi
Enquiries
- Technical Enquiries:Dr N.P. Mabaso-Langa
- Acting Senior Manager: Medical Services
- Tel: (036) 637 2111
Closing Date: 04 October 2026
Important Application Notes
- The Department is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action employer.
- The Department aims to promote representivity across occupational categories and levels.
- Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
- The Z83 must be fully completed and accompanied by a detailed CV.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be required to provide certified supporting documents.
- Security clearance
- Credit-record checks
- Qualification verification
- Citizenship verification
- Previous employment/experience verification
- Failure to satisfy the required checks may result in the application not being considered.
- Due to the large number of applications, receipt of applications will not be acknowledged.
- Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates.
- Candidates invited for interviews will not receive S&T claims due to financial constraints.
- All shortlisted candidates, including SMS candidates where applicable, will undertake two pre-entry assessments:
- A practical exercise assessing suitability against the technical and generic requirements of the post.
- An integrity/ethical-conduct assessment.
- The Department reserves the right not to make an appointment.
Career Resources & Related Frameworks
- Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) requirements.
- Specialist registration in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
- Public-sector health legislation and policies.
- Clinical governance.
- Maternal and perinatal healthcare.
- Patient safety and quality improvement.
- Professional ethics.
- Clinical audit processes.
- Medico-legal risk management.
- Regional and tertiary referral systems.
- Multidisciplinary healthcare management.
Final Thoughts: Leading Safer Maternal and Women’s Healthcare
The Head Clinical Unit: Obstetrics and Gynaecology is a senior specialist position that goes well beyond individual patient care.
The successful candidate will be responsible for leading an entire specialist service while ensuring that patients receive safe, evidence-based and patient-centred care.
From managing high-risk obstetric cases and emergencies to strengthening clinical governance, developing healthcare professionals, managing scarce resources and supporting district referral services, this role can have a significant impact on the quality and effectiveness of maternal and gynaecological healthcare.
Career Spotlight: Specialist Leadership in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Senior Obstetrics and Gynaecology leadership combines advanced clinical expertise with service management, clinical governance and healthcare-system leadership.
A Head Clinical Unit must be able to make complex clinical decisions while also understanding workforce planning, resource constraints, patient-safety risks, quality improvement and referral pathways.
For an experienced Medical Specialist, this type of position represents an opportunity to influence not only individual patient outcomes, but also the performance, safety and development of an entire specialist clinical service.