Consultant Anaesthetist

Job responsibilities

Theatres

The anaesthetic department at CIC provides anaesthetic services for elective surgery in 6 inpatient, and 3 day surgery theatres, as well as a separate NCEPOD theatre and obstetric theatre.

In terms of emergency cover the department provides anaesthetic services for 24/7 emergency operating theatre, A&E, obstetrics, and intensive care, as well as ventilated patient transfers as required, most commonly to the North East.

The Clinical Director for Anaesthetics is Dr Geet Verma

ICU

There are 9 bed spaces, including a cubicle, with current staffing for up to 8 patients, admitting approximately 750 patients per year.

The unit has 10 consultants with daytime and on call sessions in ICU. Senior nursing is provided at band 7 and there is a Nurse Educator. Trainee resident staffing is provided by 8 anaesthesia trainees and 2 ACCS trainees from the Northern Deanery. Further expansion will involve recruitment of 2 trust grade doctors at CT1-2 level working similar patterns to the ACCS trainees. Trainees work a shift system and the additional two trainees will provide dedicated resident cover for the ICU from 0800 hours to 2030 hours seven days a week. Night-time cover is provided by an anaesthetic trainee.

The unit is approved by the FICM for all levels of intensive care training and has a Faculty Board Tutor. The ICU also has a 24/7 band 7 critical care outreach service to facilitate both admission to and discharge from the ICU as well as numerous educational and audit initiatives. ICU consultants and trainees also attend the Anaesthetic division monthly audit meetings.

The Clinical Director for Intensive Care is Dr Tom Sams

Staffing

The department currently comprises 24 full time Consultant anaesthetists, of who 20 participate in 2 separate on-call rotas to cover ICU, and theatres and maternity combined.

There are 8 anaesthetic trainees on rotation from the Northern Deanery across the full range of their training from CT1 to ST6, these trainees participate in an on-call rota to provide one resident anaesthetist in the hospital.

The department currently has 2 ACCS trainees, who are able to provide some additional cover for ICU some evenings and day-time at weekends. We hope to expand the numbers of ACCS.

Anaesthetic Services

All anaesthetic consultants at CIC work flexibly in time and theatre location, with rotas published 6 weeks in advance. This enables consultants to maintain their skills across a wide range of specialities. For more complex areas for example ICU, vascular, upper GI, and major ENT a smaller pool within the body of Consultants with special interests will work flexibly to provide cover for elective lists. This flexible working enables the department to provide a high quality out-of-hours service across the full range of specialities, including paediatric anaesthesia as required, despite there being only 2 Consultants on-call.

Surgical specialities

We provide anaesthetic services for a wide range of surgical specialities from day-case to complex surgery. Surgical specialities include general surgery, vascular, urology, ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynaecology, trauma and orthopaedics, maxillo-facial, ENT, and community dentals.

Obstetrics

There are approximately 1800 deliveries a year at CIC, with a Caesarean section rate of about 28%. There are 3 elective LSCS lists per week that are staffed by a Consultant anaesthetist. There is an antenatal anaesthetic assessment service, with a clinic once a fortnight. There is a 24/7 obstetric epidural pain relief service.

Paediatrics

Anaesthetic services are provided for straightforward paediatric surgery, mainly ENT and dentals down to an age of 1 year, or 10kg, this, along with CPD enables members of the department to maintain their skills for management of paediatric emergencies that inevitably present.

Pre-assessment

The department staffs and supports an active anaesthetic pre-assessment service, with a combination of nurse and Consultant led clinics

Emergency Theatre and Trauma

There is a staffed emergency list Monday to Friday 08:00-18:00, with a separate staffed trauma list all day 7 days a week.

Outside these hours there is an on-call service, with two resident trainee anaesthetists in the hospital covering all areas theatres, obstetrics, ICU, and A&E including transfers if an anaesthetist is required. They supported by 2 on-call Consultants.

Education and Training

Anaesthetic trainees at CIC come from the Northern Deanery, and we also have 2 ACCS trainees as well as regular foundation doctors and medical students rotating through the department. We have had good feedback for the training provided in the department, both by clinical and educational supervisors. There are educational supervisors within the department for anaesthetic trainees and foundation doctors. Intensive care is approved for intermediate level training. All new Consultants are encouraged to undertake the training provided by the Health Education North East to enable them to become Educational Supervisors.

Recruitment of international Medical Training Initiative doctors has been a success over recent years, with up to 5 MTI doctors working alongside deanery doctors in training.

A regular weekly tutorial is provided for trainees within the department, and all Consultants contribute to this programme. Consultants within the department also contribute to the Primary and Final FRCA courses run by the Northern Deanery, and are actively involved in trainee recruitment including short-listing and interviewing for all levels of trainee.

There is a regular monthly audit and governance meeting within the department, with a quarterly cross-site meeting with WCH. All members of the department are expected to attend and contribute actively to these meetings

Members of the department are involved in running, and instructing on locally provided ALERT, IMPACT, ACLS, EPLS, ALS and ATLS courses, as well as instructing on these courses and APLS elsewhere.

Qualifications

Essential

• Valid Registration with the General Medical Council.
• Fellow of Royal College of Anaesthetists or equivalent
• Completed Higher Specialist Training in Anaesthetics or evidence of equivalent competency (approved by PMETB/GMC).
• On the Specialist Register for the above, or be within 6 months of being admitted to the Register at the time of interview.
• Evidence of day time and/or on call experience in ICU and maternity during the last 2 years, either at ST6-7 or consultant level.

Desirable

• Other relevant medical and non-medical training/degree.
• Instructor status in either ATLS/APLS/ALS
• Other relevant postgraduate qualification
• Evidence of recent and on-going CPD in intensive care

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills with patients, colleagues, managers and other staff
• Knowledge of Audit process & Clinical Governance
• Ability to organise workload efficiently
• A special interest to complement that of the existing post-holders
• A commitment to, and experience of teaching

Desirable

• Qualifications in teaching/instructing.
• Experience of development of teaching resources.

Experience

Essential

• High level of clinical experience and competence in a wide variety of fields of anaesthesia

Desirable

• Experience and understanding of District General Hospital practice

Research and Teaching Experience

Essential

• Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical problems
• Commitment to continuing medical education, appraisal and clinical governance.

Desirable

• Publications in peer reviewed journals.
• Experience of teaching to undergraduates and postgraduates.

Personality and Disposition

Essential

• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Enquiring, critical approach to work.

Desirable

• Willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at local, regional and national levels

Personal circumstances

Essential

• Able to participate in on- call and emergency cover.
• Ability to travel to fulfil the requirements of the post
• Able to be based within 30 minutes of the base hospital.

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).