Consultant in Musculoskeletal Radiology

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.

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 5 MRI scanners on site (2 Siemens Vida 3T, Siemens 1.5 -Sola, 1.5T Philips Integra Nova and Philips Integra 1.5T modular unit). A 3rd 3T scanner 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 are scheduled for upgrade and refurbishment in 2022/23.

Intervention

The department includes a newly installed Siemens Icono Biplane interventional suite and two Phillips interventional suites; one of which includes a 3D rotational angiography facility and bi-planar imaging. Both Philips machines are in the process of being replaced with a Siemens Icono Biplane machine and and Artis Q monoplane machine.

All interventional suites have access to dedicated ultrasound machines.

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.

X-Ray

In addition to two adjacent departments 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 and sonographic staff only.

Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear Medicine is in close proximity to 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. The service is well equipped and is a phase-3 test site for GE imaging equipment. Plymouth is the site for static Peninsula PET provision in collaboration with InHealth.

GENERAL WORKLOAD

General x-ray examinations

~195,000

Fluoroscopy

~3,600

Ultrasound examinations (non-obstetric)

~41,000

CT scans

~44,500

MRI scans

~22,000

Symptomatic and screening ultrasound/FNA/Core biopsies

~5,505

Nuclear Medicine examinations

~8,400

The hospital has a full Insignia PACS service connected to all Imaging modalities and uses Wellbeing RIS with Dragon VR. Both PACS and RIS are shared systems operating across the South-West Peninsula, allowing for near seamless image sharing between the trust and neighbouring hospitals.

Reporting of inpatient and ED imaging is provided on an extended working day basis by radiology consultants (9am 7pm), with radiology registrars providing out-of-hours cover 9pm 9am with both neuroradiology and general radiology consultants providing non-resident on call. Weekends are fully staffed by radiology registrars, again with both neuroradiology and general radiology consultants providing non-resident on call. In addition, 7 day working has been established with daily inpatient ultrasound and additional low-acuity CT reporting being provided by consultants.

The current frequency of general on call is approximately 1 in 18.

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 Cluster Manager for General Radiology, and professionally responsible to the Medical Director.

Please see job description for more details

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
• Broad skills in general and cross-sectional imaging including acute imaging services
• Ability to offer expert opinion on full range of standard chest imaging
• Ability to support the cardiothoracic MDT work in a cancer and tertiary surgical centre
• Ability to supervise radiology StRs across a broad range of imaging.
• Ability to teach and supervise reporting radiographers
• Willing to participate in radiology on-call rota

Desirable

• Ability to independently report specialist cardiac CT
• Ability to independently report PET CT
• Ability to perform CT guided lung biopsies

Research & Clinical Audit

Essential

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

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
• Ability to move between sites if required

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).