Trust Grade in Neurosurgery

Job responsibilities

THE WALTON CENTRE NHS Foundation Trust

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust (WCFT) is an independent specialist neurosciences NHS Trust hospital providing a high quality, integrated and multidisciplinary neurosciences service to Merseyside, North Wales, the Isle of Man and part of West Lancashire which totals a population of 3.2 million.. The Centre is adjacent to the University Hospital Aintree which is a busy District General Hospital Trust located 6 miles from the centre of Liverpool.

The Centre is based in a purpose built building, opened in 1998. The Centre is virtually self contained and has 84 neurosurgical beds, 48 Neurological beds (including a day ward and a programmed investigation unit), and 4 pain relief beds. Critical care facility comprises an 18 bedded dedicated Neuro-Intensive Care Unit and a 4 bedded high dependency area.

The centre is organised into three divisions; neurosurgery lies in the directorate of neurosurgery, critical care and anaesthesia and pain services. The other directorates comprise neurology and diagnostics.

Activity

There are almost 4000 neurosurgical admissions per annum and 3500 operations of which 450 are pain relief procedures. There are four fully staffed neurosurgical operating theatres and one Pain Relief operation theatre. An additional emergency theatre is available for a limited number of sessions per week.

Outpatient clinics including specialised ones are held within the Centre; there are further clinics in surrounding hospitals including Chester, Whiston, and Wigan.

Neurosurgical Staff

In addition to the consultant staff, there are 10 higher surgical trainees, 7 Clinical Fellows and 7 Junior trainees (out of a pool of 15).

Consultants currently in post and their special interests are:

Mr AR Brodbelt Neuro-oncology, general, spinal neurosurgery

Mr N Buxton Spinal and vascular neurosurgery

Miss D Bhargava General and functional neurosurgery

Mr N Carleton-Bland General and complex spinal neurosurgery

Mr D Carter Specialist neurosurgeon and Clinical Director

Mr E Chavredakis General, neuro-oncology and vascular

Mr S Clark General, complex spinal neurosurgery and Spinal Consultant Lead

Mr J Farah General and functional neurosurgery

Miss C Gilkes General, skull base neurosurgery

Prof M Jenkinson Neuro-oncology, and general neurosurgery

Mr D Lawson Neuro-oncology, general neurosurgery

Miss M Lee Locum: General, complex spinal neurosurgery

Miss C McMahon Trauma, general neurosurgery

Miss C Morgan Orthopaedic complex spinal surgeon

Mr F Olubajo General, trauma and neuro-oncology

Mr TJD Pigott General, spinal neurosurgery

Mr N Rath Orthopaedic surgery complex spine

Mr A Sinha General, paediatric, pituitary neurosurgery (Alder Hey)

Mr Z Sarsam General and complex spinal neurosurgery

Mr M Wilby General and complex spinal neurosurgery

Mr J Yousaf General, skull base and vascular neurosurgery

Mr R Zakaria General and cranial neurosurgery

Mr P Annis Orthopaedic complex spinal surgeon

Mr M De Matas Orthopaedic complex spinal surgeon

Mr R Popa Orthopaedic complex spinal surgeon

Mr S Thambiraj Orthopaedic complex spinal surgeon

Associated Services and Facilities

1. Neurology

There are 49 Consultant Neurologists including 3 Professors, and 2 Senior Lecturers. The junior staff comprises 8 trainees at STR level or equivalent and a total of 8 junior trainees at CMT and F2 grade. Some of StR doctors also work within Neurophysiology and NeuroRehab. The neurologists have special interests in epilepsy, movement disorders, muscle disease, demyelination, dementia and cerebrovascular disease and Consultants in Rehabilitation Medicine. The Trust hosts the Cheshire and Merseyside Rehab Network and has dedicated Level 1 and 2 beds in a purpose built Rehab unit. In addition to inpatient and outpatient work within the Centre clinics are held at most of the District General Hospitals served by the Centre.

2. Neuroradiology

There are 6 Consultant Neuroradiologists and an StR in neuroradiology. There are two rotating registrar posts and currently one externally funded neurointerventional fellow post. The Department is well equipped with a spiral CT scanner, a biplanar angiography suite , Two 3T, and one open 0.35T MR scanners,and myelography.

3. Neuropathology

There is currently 2 Consultant Neuropathologist in post and 1 vacant post and a Specialist Registrar. Neurohistology, Neurochemistry and Cytology including Immunocytology are undertaken.

4. Neurophysiology

There are 4 Consultant Neurophysiologists and 1 StR. A complete neurophysiological service is available.

5. Neuro-anaesthesia

There are 17 Consultant anaesthetists. A Consultant is in administrative charge of the Centres dedicated ITU. Further support comes from four clinical fellows, 3 staff grades, and an associate specialist, and an F2. It is planned to appoint two further WTE consultant.

6. Pain Relief

The Regional Centre for Pain Relief is a multidisciplinary department run by 7 Consultants (including The Professor of Pain Science) and an Anaesthetic Specialist Registrar. Two of the neurosurgeons have close links with this department. There is further integration with the Pain Research Institute which is part of the University Department of Neuroscience.

7. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool has links to the Clinical Sciences Centre adjacent to the Walton Centre on the University Hospital Aintree campus. This represents a partnership between WCNN, University Hospital Aintree, the University of Liverpool, Edge Hill University and the Pain Relief Foundation. There are professors in Neurology, Pain Science, Neuropsychology and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The University Department has an active programme of research and teaching. The WCNN and the University Department have also created a Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) where members of the Centre can undertake various clinical trials. The unit has a manager and team of nurses/secretaries to help in the participation of high quality trials. In addition the Pain Research Institute is able to provide research facilities for those with appropriate interests. Other University Departments and colleagues have shown themselves extremely willing to collaborate in joint programmes of research. Most members of the medical staff of the WCNN are actively involved in research and education.

Neurooncology Research

There are links to a number of university laboratories, and a number of ongoing research projects. Funding for an NHIR research fellow has just been approved. There are research programmes into the molecular biology of neurological tumours, the relationship with advanced MR imaging, conformal radiotherapy, and stereotactic surgery, which provides opportunities for research. The clinical neurosurgeons hold honorary clinical lecturer appointments (one as senior lecturer) and are active in research in their sub-specialist fields. Within the Walton Centre there is a purpose built Clinical Trials Unit, which is fully staffed and will undertake clinical trials research under consultant supervision.

8. Postgraduate Education

The WCNN has a very active programme of postgraduate education with a regular weekly series of clinical meetings, lectures, journal clubs and neuropathology. The Centres library is situated in the Clinical Sciences Centre. The new Clinical Sciences building contains an IT resource centre which will give access to appropriate software for medical research material, etc. This can also be accessed via the Centres own IT system. The education facilities include a Lecture Theatre with a capacity of 225 equipped with the latest audio visual aids, video conferencing facilities, an exhibition facility and seminar rooms

9. Paediatric Neurosurgery

Paediatric Neurosurgery is undertaken at the Royal Liverpool Childrens NHS Trust some 4 miles away, which also accommodates the paediatric neurology. There are joint specialist clinics at Alder Hey eg the Paediatric Neuro-oncology, Cranio-facial Surgery clinic.

10. Neuropsychology

The department comprises three consultants and a number of assistants. The bulk of the work of the service is related to pain management and epilepsy but is available to support, as required, other areas. Help is provided for example in respect of neuropsychological outcomes following neurosurgical diseases.

You will be working as a Neurosurgery Registrar across the Neurosurgery service. The sub specialty Neurosurgery practice is provided in Oncology, Skull base, Functional, Vascular, Spinal, Hydrocephalus and Trauma. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to experience all aspects of sub specialty surgery and will be a member of the team on a busy Neurosurgery on-call rota.

On Call

You will take part in registrar on call for adult (WCFT) neurosurgery. On call for the Walton Centre is a resident shift based system. On call is compliant with both EWTD and BMA guidelines on junior doctors hours of work. At present there is a two tier on call for the most junior registrar with a second senior registrar available.

Educational Approval

The 10 Specialist Registrar posts in neurosurgery have been approved for Higher Surgical Training in Neurological Surgery by the Specialist Advisory Committee in Neurological Surgery and Joint Committee on Higher Surgical Training of the Royal College of Surgeons

Experience

Essential

• Basic surgical training must be completed as required by the Royal Colleges or approved overseas equivalent.
• Equivalent overseas training will be considered.

Desirable

• Intercollegiate examination in Neurosurgery.
• Some experience in neuro- surgery

Qualifications

Essential

• MBChB or equivalent
• GMC registered
• FRCS or after 1998 MRCS/FRCS
• (or approved overseas equivalent)

Desirable

• Higher or other degree
• Awards, distinctions, prizes, scholarships

Audit

Essential

• Understanding of principles

Desirable

• Participation in audit

Personality

Essential

• Able to cope with pressure.
• Able to take responsibility.
• Good communication.
• Ability to work as part of a team

Desirable

• Outside interests

Research

Desirable

• Some experience of
• Publications
• Presentations

Motivation

Essential

• Commitment to gaining sufficient experience and training

Desirable

• Critical enquiring approach to acquisition of knowledge

Knowledge/ Clinical & Technical Skills

Essential

• Appropriate experience with evidence of understanding and the ability to apply it in clinical practice.
• Competent in managing patients including note keeping, and in undertaking surgical procedures.
• Physically able to participate in long neurosurgical procedures
• Evidence of potential to develop.

Desirable

• Some experience in neuro- surgery

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).