Job responsibilities
The Post
This
post is designed for a senior neurosurgical trainee (ideally post-CCT if a UK
applicant). The neurosurgeons work in
teams. The post is mainly attached to Mr
Brodbelt, Prof Jenkinson, Mr Chavredakis and Mr Zakaria (Senior lecturer) but the
successful applicant would be expected to work within the associated firm. The fellow will participate in both the
clinical activity of the firm, and research including clinical trials recruitment. The successful candidate will be expected to join
the Associate PI scheme for the NIHR funded FUTURE GB trial.
At the
end of the fellowship the trainee will be exposed to all aspects of brain
tumour management and surgery and will gain experience in awake craniotomy,
iMRI, iUS, fluorescence-guided surgery, DTI, neurophysiological monitoring, intraventricular
tumours and pineal tumours. Fellows will
recruit patients into clinical trials and will undertake research with a view
to presenting at national meetings, such as SBNS and BNOS.
It is anticipated that the timetable
will be:
AM
PM
Mon
Ward round / ward work
Attend AB out patient clinic
Tue
Theatre
Theatre
Wed
Postgraduate Education WCNN/ Post operative ward round/
Research
Thu
Glioma OPD / Audit / MDT meeting
Fri
Theatre
Theatre
On Call
The postholder will take part in the
2-tier registrar on call for adult (WCFT) neurosurgery. On call for the walton centre is a resident
shift-based system, with a second level non-resident based registrar. On call is compliant with both EWTD and BMA
guidelines on junior doctors hours of work.
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. The Neuro surgical Oncology Fellow post has
been approved for training by the SAC, PMETB, and HENW.
Neurooncology Research
The academic neuro-oncology group is
comprised of 1 professor, 1 senior lecturer, 3 ACF, and 2 PhD staff. There is an active portfolio of research for
meningioma, metastases and glioma. The
group leads on several neuro-oncology trials (ROAM, STOP EM, BRITEMET), and imaging
and laboratory work.
Neurosurgical
oncology
The
Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust has a comprehensive neurooncology
programme. The Centre manages
approximately 450 new case a year and covers the full spectrum of CNS tumours. There
are 8 operating theatres fully equipped with image-guidance (Brainlab and Medronic),
ultrasound, intra-operative MRI, fluorescence (5-ALA) microscopes, ultrasonic
aspirators, intra-operative neurophysiology, awake craniotomy and ventricular
endoscopy.
The
hospital has a full-service tissue bank and all brain tumour patients are
invited to participate. In addition,
there is an extensive trials portfolio and all members of the team recruit
patients.
There are three clinical neuro-oncologists
all based at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology (Drs May, Mehta and Shenoy) and
two at North Wales Cancer Centre (Drs Soe and Haylock), who provide adjuvant
treatment using radiotherapy and chemotherapy. All run weekly clinics at both
Clatterbridge and the Walton Centre; all participate in neuro-oncology
multi-disciplinary meetings, attended also by neurosurgeons managing tumour
cases.
In addition to conventional
radiotherapy, a LINAC based stereotactic radiosurgical service is delivered by
collaboration between the neurosurgeons and neuro-oncologists at a satellite
radiotherapy unit adjacent to the Walton Centre. The service is further supported by 2.6 WTE neuro-oncology
nurse specialists.
GENERAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THE LIVERPOOL AREA AND THE LOCAL REGION
Liverpool is a dynamic city. It has experienced a major
revival over the past few years and Merseysiders enjoy a superb quality of
life. It is unusually compact and a journey to the centre rarely takes more
than 30 minutes.
The county abounds with fine architecture, lively cultural
pursuits and outstanding sport. Tourism has become a major industry and 20
million people visited the city last year, attracted by both the areas natural
and man made assets.
Merseyside's theatres, museums and art collections are now
amongst its strongest assets. The city is alive with independent theatre
groups, authors, poets and dance groups. Photography, sculpture, street art and
video makers abound. The Walker Art Gallery contains a collection of equal to
any in the provinces and the Tate Gallery opened in 1988 on Liverpool's
waterfront in the refurbished Albert Dock.
The Philharmonic Orchestra is nationally acclaimed and there
is a full range of musical activities of all types.
There are both Anglican and Roman Catholic Cathedrals and
facilities for worship for every other faith in the city. There are excellent
schools for both sexes, including a variety of denominational schools for both
in the private and state sector.
The University Medical School and the Liverpool Medical
Institution are within 20 minutes drive of the Walton Centre.
Very good housing in pleasant suburbs near the sea and in
rural areas are easily available, the cost of which is rather less than the
national average.
Two airports are within easy reach. Liverpool and Manchester
International Airport are within half to three quarters of an hours drive
time. There are excellent train services and motorway links to all parts of the
country, with easy access to the national parks, North Wales, the Peak District
and the Lake District, as well as to both Lancashire and North Wales coasts.
South Sefton is the home of the Grand National Racecourse at
Aintree and also embraces the Freeport of Liverpool. There are several
excellent nearby golf courses of which three host the Open Championship. In
2008 Liverpool will become the European City of Culture.
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 3.5 million. The Centre is adjacent to the University Hospital
Aintree (part of Liverpool University Hospital Trust) and is the Major Trauma
Centre for the City.
The Centre is
based in a purpose built building, opened in 1998. The Centre is
virtually self contained and has 132 beds, (including a day ward and a
programmed investigation unit). 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 7 fully staffed neurosurgical operating theatres. One
of those is a 24 hour emergency theatre.
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 11 higher
surgical trainees, 7 Clinical Fellows (including this post) and 7 junior
trainees (out of a pool of 15).
Consultants currently in post and their special interests
are:
Miss D
Bhargava FUNCTIONAL
NEUROSURGERY
Associate
Prof A Brodbelt NEURO-ONCOLOGY,
CHIARI, SYRINGOMYELIA, NEUROVASCULAR
Mr N Buxton CHIARI, SYRINGOMYELIA,
HYDROCEPHALUS AND SPINAL NEUROSURGERY
Mr N
Carleton-Bland COMPLEX
SPINE
Mr D Carter SPINAL
SURGERY (Specialist in Neurosurgery) CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Mr E
Chavredakis NEURO-ONCOLOGY
Miss C
Gilkes SKULL
BASE AND PITUITARY
Professor M
Jenkinson NEURO-ONCOLOGY (PROF
OF SURGICAL TRIALS)
Mr D Lawson NEURO-ONCOLOGY
Miss M Lee COMPLEX
SPINE
Mr F Olubajo NEURO-ONCOLOGY
AND HYDROCEPHALUS
Mr J
Osman-Farah EPILEPSY,
PAIN AND MOVEMENT DISORDERS
Mr N Rath ORTHOPAEDIC
SPINE SURGERY (INCLUDING ENDOSCOPIC)
Mr Z Sarsam COMPLEX
SPINE
Mr A Sinha PITUITARY
SURGERY, PAEDITRIC NEUROSURGERY (ALDER HEY)
Mr O
Sobowale COMPLEX
SPINE (CRANIAL AND SPINE TRAUMA LEAD)
Mr M Wilby COMPLEX
SPINE (SPINE LEAD)
Mr J Yousaf SKULL
BASE AND VASCULAR
Mr R Zakaria
NEURO-ONCOLOGY
(SENIOR LECTURER)
Mr P Annis ORTHOPAEDIC
SPINE SURGEON DEFORMITY (LUFT)
Mr R Popa ORTHOPAEDIC
SPINE SURGEON MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY LUFT)
Mr M De
Matas ORTHOPAEDIC
SPINE SURGEON (LUFT)
Mr S
Thambiraj ORTHOPAEDIC
SPINE SURGEON (LUFT)
