Locum Consultant in Diagnostic NeuroRadiology

Job responsibilities

The work of the department

The Radiology department at UPHT, Plymouth is a large teaching department responsible for specialist registrar training. Derriford Hospital is a large Teaching Hospital providing secondary and tertiary care to a population of 1.7 million. It is a busy Trauma centre. The main x-ray service is accommodated within two large adjacent departments, and a third smaller one in A&E.

Interventional Radiology:

In addition to 14 x-ray rooms and two fluoroscopy suites, the department includes two Phillips interventional suites, one of which is equipped with a 3D rotational facility and bi-planar imaging.

In March 2022 we started to build a new IR room containing a Siemens Icono Bi-plane (now completed). This will be followed immediately by replacement of the other suites with another Icono and an Artis Q ceiling. This refurbishment will also include a 2 bedded wait area and interventional ultrasound room. This is an interim solution while the Trust builds a new 4 story extension containing ED, Same-Day Emergency Care, an Interventional Radiology department complete with Siemens Icono biplanes rooms (x2), Siemens Pheno (x1) and Artis Q ceiling, interventional CT and ultrasound rooms, plus 12 bed day case unit, recovery bays and consultation rooms. The floor above will include an Interventional theatre complete with Siemens Pheno plus consultant and administrative offices and meeting rooms.

The plans are at an advanced stage with whole project completion expected in Autumn 2026.

CT

There are six multi-slice CT scanners (GE Revolution Apex Cardiac/Dual energy OP scanner, GE Revolution Trauma/In patient scanner, GE HD750 64 slice IP Scanner, 2 Optima GE 64 slice OP Scanners, and a GE Optima CT 540 for intervention/IPs) providing a complete CT service. The department is a development site for GE CT and with GE runs international cardiac training. There is CT scanning within the fluoroscopy suite providing a CTC service. Radiotherapy planning is on a separate oncology unit scanner. All GE CT scanners are capable of performing CT angiography and we have CT perfusion capacity on 5 of the 6 scanners.

MRI

There are 6 MRI scanners on site (2 Siemens Vida 3T, Siemens 1.5 -Sola, 1.5T Philips Integra Nova and Philips Integra 1.5T modular unit. 0.3 peripheral MSK MRI scanner). A 3rd 3T scanner is available as a joint project with Plymouth University (Siemens Prisma). The MRI service operates an extended working day from 8am to 8pm with a radiographic shift-system. We have occasional visiting mobile MRI units.

Fluoroscopy

There are two fluoroscopy suites (one conventional, one C-arm). These rooms are due for refurbishment and replacement in 2022/23, during which one room will be co-located with the new IR suite to provide interventional fluoroscopy (ERCP, stenting, joint injections etc).

Ultrasound

The ultrasound department is based within x-ray West and provides a full non obstetric diagnostic and therapeutic service, including contrast, fusion, elastography and intervention. There are 10 ultrasound examination rooms within the University Hospitals footprint, all equipped with modern high specification machines (Canon), as well as 2 high spec portable machines. Ultrasound is also provided in peripheral sites including the Radiology Academy and Cumberland centre (a further 8 rooms by autumn 2021). We pride ourselves in having a forward thinking, collaborative department lead jointly by radiologists and sonographers, focussed on providing cutting-edge, high-quality patient-centred US and exemplary training. We have 3 consultant sonographers and have embraced skill mix; our sonographers can undertake FNAs, drainages, therapeutic injections, neonatal and contrast studies as well as the full range of diagnostic scans.

NM:

Nuclear Medicine is near the Main X-ray Department and is run by a full-time Consultant in Nuclear Medicine and a full-time Consultant Radiologist. The Department participates in the training of Radiology Specialist Registrars and is in the process of refurbishment and replacement of equipment.

Plymouth is the site for Peninsula PET provision.

In addition to the imaging facilities at Derriford Hospital, there are satellite x-ray departments at Liskeard, Tavistock, Launceston, Kingsbridge and two small departments in Plymouth at Mount Gould Hospital and the Cumberland Centre. These satellite departments are staffed by radiographic staff only.

Peninsula Radiology Academy:

The Peninsula is host to one of the 3 Radiology Academies in the UK and is the only purpose-built unit of its kind in the world. The site has full PACS, state of the art ultrasound and a variety of novel teaching methods including interventional simulators and access to interventional models. The teaching is underpinned by the electronic learning database, which covers the whole of the radiology curriculum and is the largest electronic teaching system in Europe. It has won several educational awards and supplements the excellent teaching delivered by the consultants in the Peninsula. The training scheme is highly regarded for the quality of opportunity and teaching and takes 12-18 SpR's per year. The successful applicant would be encouraged to become involved in the teaching program.

The hospital has a full Insignia PACS service connected to all Imaging modalities, installed in 2013. There is Voice Recognition integrated to the Radiology Information System and PACS.

We have a mature remote system established, with many consultants working at least 50% of their time from home with full PACS workstations and secure routers to emulate on-site reporting. We would be open to discussions about remote working to suit applicants who did not wish to fully relocate to the Southwest.

GENERAL WORKLOAD

General x-ray examinations

~156,000

Fluoroscopy

~2,200

Ultrasound examinations (non-obstetric)

~54,000

CT scans

~55,500

MRI scans

~29,000

Angiography

~35,000

Nuclear Medicine examinations

~9,858

The hospital has a full Insignia PACS service connected to all Imaging modalities and uses Wellbeing RIS with Dragon VR.

Radiology Academy

The Peninsula is host to one of only 3 Radiology Academies in the UK and is the only purpose built unit of its kind in the world. The site has full PACS, state of the art ultrasound and a variety of novel teaching methods including interventional and ultrasound simulators and access to interventional models. The teaching is underpinned by the electronic learning database, which covers the whole of the radiology curriculum and is the largest electronic teaching system in Europe. It has won several educational awards and supplements the excellent teaching delivered by the consultants in the Peninsula. The siting of the Academy in Plymouth will ensure the safety of the highly regarded training scheme in the region that now takes between 12- 18 StR's per year. The successful applicant would be encouraged to become involved in the teaching program. As the academy evolves it will become integrated further in the department with large amounts of reporting occurring in this quiet, spacious and relaxed atmosphere.

The post holder will interact with the consultant radiologists and radiology trainees, radiographic and clerical staff in the Imaging Service Line and will have clinical involvement with a wide range of clinical teams in the hospital and with general practitioners. The post holder will be managerially responsible to the Clinical Director and Service Line Manager for General Radiology, and professionally responsible to the Medical Director.

DUTIES OF THE POST:

The post is to share responsibility for provision of a comprehensive diagnostic neuroradiology service.

All radiology consultants are actively involved in teaching for the Peninsula Medical School and Peninsula Radiology Training Program.

The successful applicant will share an office and secretarial support with consultant colleagues. A networked PC will be provided with this post and there will be office access to a PACS reporting workstation. Development of competence with voice recognition software will be required.

The post holder will be required to comply with all Trust Policies notably in relation to job planning, appraisal and leave taking in line with Departmental and Trust objectives. The programs shown are for illustrative purposes and could be subject to modification, in agreement with the post holder and the Clinical Director.

The post holder will be expected to share the oncall commitment equally with the existing consultants. There is an expectation that successful candidates will participate in 7 day working plans, currently being discussed.

The Service Line would support and encourage research interests of the Consultant in conjunction with the Trust lead for R & D, and University of Plymouth. All consultants are expected to actively participate in the departments audit and clinical governance program

Education, Qualifications & Special Training

Essential

• Full GMC Registration
• Fellowship Royal College of Radiologists or equivalent
• CCT in radiology and entry on specialist register or expected within 6 months of interview

Desirable

• MD, PhD or other postgraduate degree

Particular skills and experience

Essential

• Clinical training and experience equivalent to that required for gaining UK CCT in radiology
• Further sub-specialist/fellowship training in Neuroradiology
• Ability to offer expert clinical opinion on full range of both emergency and routine radiological situations
• Ability to supervise radiology STRs across a broad range of Neuroradiology
• Willing to participate in diagnostic neuroradiology on-call rota

Desirable

• Experience in foetal/paediatric imaging

Research & Clinical Audit

Essential

• Ability to apply evidence based approach to management of clinical problems
• Evidence of completed audit projects
• Evidence of completed research topics

Desirable

• Completion of clinical research
• Publication in peer reviewed journals
• Ability to undertake basic science research
• Ability to lead research team
• Previous success in grant applications to national funding bodies

Teaching

Essential

• Ability to teach clinical and practical skills

Desirable

• Experience of teaching clinical skills to undergraduate and post graduate students
• Ability to supervise postgraduate research

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

Essential

• Well presented CV
• Ability to communicate well with patients and staff, both orally and in writing
• Honesty and reliability
• Ability to work in a team
• Enquiring, critical approach to work
• Caring attitude to patients, relatives, GP's, nurses and other agencies
• Commitment to continuing medical education
• Leadership qualities

Desirable

• Information technology skills
• Willingness to undertake professional responsibilities at local, regional or national levels

Management

Essential

• Ability to advise on efficient and smooth running of specialist service
• Ability to participate in department, directorate and Trust management
• Experience in audit

Desirable

• Experience in medical management

Practical requirements

Essential

• Ability and willingness to work defined hours, shifts and on call with any reasonable adjustment to take account of any local requirement or disability

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).