Locum Consultant in Vascular Surgery

Job description

Job responsibilities

This post is a locum post for a period of 12 months

1. BACKGROUND

This is a 10 PA locum appointment for a Consultant in Vascular Surgery, with a special interest in Diabetic Limb Salvage.The post will be based at Leeds General Infirmary and St James University Hospital.

Leeds Vascular Institute (LVI) was formed in 2005 with the merger of previously independent units at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) and St Jamess University Hospital (SJUH). In 2014, the Leeds Vascular Institute formed a partnership with the Department of Vascular Surgery from Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust (MYHT) comprising Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury hospitals, forming at that time one of the largest vascular units in the country. It provides a full range of vascular services including a tertiary referral centre for thoracic aortic pathology and a supra-regional paediatric vascular surgery service. In addition, from April 2013 the LVI has also provided emergency trauma surgery cover for the Leeds Major Trauma Centre at LGI. Our mission statement is to provide the best evidence-based patient-centred care for people with vascular disease and deliver excellent training in a supportive working environment. We hold an annual strategy day and are committed to continuously improving the care we can deliver for the people of East of West Yorkshire with vascular disease.

There are currently 13 consultant vascular surgeons working in LTHT, of whom 11 participate in the acute rota:

Mr Patrick Coughlin

Mrs Rosie Darwood (Clinical Lead)

Professor Homer-Vanniasinkham

Mr James Forsyth

Miss Nonica Maftei

Mr Ahmed Nassef

Mrs Jenny Robson

Mr David Russell (Diabetic Limb Salvage Lead)

Mr Jon De Siqueira

Mr Venugopal Shankar

Mr Tim Stansfield (Trauma Lead)

Mr Max Troxler (Vascular Access Lead)

Mr Tom Wallace (Aortic Lead)

We are supported by a team of 4 Vascular Nurse Specialists including a dedicated CLTI VNS and also an embedded vascular surgery Proactive Care of the Older Surgical Patient (POPS) team led by Dr Rebecca Anthony, Care of the Elderly consultant and an Advanced Nurse Practitioner. There is a 1 in 9 resident middle grade rota including research fellows and NTN posts and core surgical trainees (daytime only). There are 12 vascular FY1s, 5 of which are shared posts with other specialities (ICU and ED) and two physicians associates.

We have close working relationships with the vascular radiology team (8 consultant vascular radiologists) with 24/7 access to vascular radiology and a vascular hybrid theatre suite. We hold weekly aortic, chronic limb-threatening ischaemia, diabetes limb salvage and vascular access MDTs as well as a general vascular MDT.

Patients are cared for on a dedicated 27 bedded vascular ward. We deliver speciality aortic, vascular access and chronic limb threatening ischaemia clinics as well as one stop varicose vein clinics, general vascular clinics and an MDT diabetic limb salvage clinic. The majority of one stop varicose vein clinics and interventions for varicose veins are provided at Wharfedale General Hospital in Otley (10miles north west of Leeds).

There is a dedicated vascular theatre as well as access to acute theatres 24/7. The unit performs on average 60-80 aortic procedures, 30-40 carotid endarterectomies and 60-100 lower limb bypasses per year.

We form a partnership with Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust as outlined above and outpatient clinics and daycase procedures (currently endovenous and peripheral endovascular procedures) are provided in Pinderfields, Dewsbury and Pontefract Hospitals. Paddy Coughlin is the Lead for the WYVAS East network and an additional two consultants and a nurse consultant contribute to this service:

Mr Craig Irvine

Mr Jon Hossain

Mrs Leanne Atkin

Consultants based at LTHT also provide outpatient services at Pinderfields Hospital. Inpatient vascular treatment for patients from MYHT is provided at the LGI with repatriation to MYHT under the care of medical teams once their vascular surgery is complete.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE POST

The appointed consultant will take up a new post within the network.

Their objective will be to work collaboratively with the wider team of vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists to develop Leeds as a centre of excellence for vascular surgery in the fields of:

Clinical Service & Care

Teaching & Training

Research & Innovation

Clinical Service & Care

They will contribute to the provision of emergency and urgent care of patients with vascular and traumatic disease. They will work with colleagues to strive to achieve the GIRFT* timescales and other key national waiting time standards.

In particular, they will work collaboratively with the established multi-disciplinary diabetic limb salvage service. The Leeds Diabetes Limb Salvage Service is amongst the largest and most progressive in the country, and includes podiatrists, orthotists, diabetologists, diabetic nurses and vascular surgeons to enable holistic management of the patient with a diabetic foot problem. The Chronic Limb Threatening Ischaemia service includes dedicated CLTI clinics, a CLTI MDT and CLTI Vascular Nurse Specialist as well as a virtual ward. LVI provides complex open and endovascular aortic interventions for patients from across West Yorkshire with a dedicated aortic clinic and MDT.

They will participate in a 1:10 consultant first on-call rota to provide emergency out-of-hours vascular surgery to the Trust with an additional 1 in 10 second on-call rota at weekends (see section 5 for more rota details). They may also provide emergency resuscitative surgical care within the Major Trauma Centre (MTC).

The current vascular consultants provide emergency resuscitative surgery within the Major Trauma Centre. It is recognised that outside London this is an unusual arrangement but one very much valued by the team as an opportunity to provide great care and a rewarding professional activity. It is recognised that not all applicants may feel that they have the required skills and experience to undertake this role. However, it is the opinion of the team that a qualified and competent vascular surgeon does indeed have the basic skill set and would look to support the applicant through in house training, mentorship and potentially education at other centres (UK & abroad) to gain the confidence and experience desired. The established ability or the desire to develop the skills to manage the trauma seen at the Leeds MTC would be a desirable but not an essential requirement for the post.

Teaching & Training

They will develop and expand the provision of postgraduate training in vascular surgery. They will contribute to and improve the quality of undergraduate training in vascular surgery.

Research & Innovation

They will work to facilitate and develop research and audit interests in vascular and trauma surgery. They will be encouraging of the process to improve the quality of care and increase the scope for innovation.

The Leeds Vascular Institute has a track record for leading research across the spectrum of basic sciences, translational research and clinical trials. It has been the lead centre for delivery of major NIHR and Welcome Trust grants and is also the lead partner of the vascular stream of the NIHR Surgical MedTech Co-operative. Research in the unit is supported by 4 vascular research nurses and a clinical trials assistant.

The unit has excellent links with the University of Leeds, including: undergraduate EXSEL scholarship medical students who are actively engaged in research (www.leeds.ac.uk/exsel); the Leeds Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM); the Royal College of Surgeons accredited Leeds Clinical Trials Unit.

The post holder will have the opportunity to engage with basic science research through the Leeds Institute for Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM) within the School of Medicine which has a strong track record in cardiovascular research. LICAMM has an excellent track record in attracting high level British Heart Foundation funding, including 2 BHF chairs, 3 BHF programme grants and 3 BHF ICRFs (one in vascular surgery). The institute has state-of-the-art vascular biology and pre-clinical research facilities, including established experimental models of atherosclerosis, lower limb ischaemia and aneurysm disease alongside a wide rangeof pre-clinical imaging modalities (USS, CT, PET/CT/SPECT, MRI, Optical).

Applicants interested in research will be encouraged and supported to develop this, including mentoring as required. This builds on the pre-existing programme to enable attainment of NIHR grants and academic career progression through the Trusts Honorary Clinical Associate Professor/Honorary Clinical Professor scheme in association with the University of Leeds.

The Trust also supports bespoke academic development and participation programmes linked to the Research Strategy, including academic mentoring, and embedding of clinicians within the major research programmes.

Sessional time required for any participation in research activity will be agreed on commencement and kept under review, but not all consultants will require such sessional time.

*GIRFT = Vascular Surgery Get it Right First Time National Specialty Report

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Should have completed a recognised training programme in Vascular Surgery
• Must be able to demonstrate a high level of clinical experience and competence in the generality of vascular surgery with a particular interest in lower limb arterial disease and limb salvage
• Evidence of continuous career progression consistent with personal circumstances.
• Evidence of the ability to carry out medical research.
• Experience in training undergraduate medical students and postgraduate doctors.
• Experience of participation in regular clinical audit.
• Understanding of current issues in the NHS.
• *Well organised and skilled in good time management.
• *Effective interpersonal skills.
• *Demonstrate ability to relate to and work within a team.
• Medically fit to fulfil ALL aspects of the post, and be able to respond quickly to emergencies, as necessary. Meets professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice).
• *Hold full GMC Registration with a license to practice.
• *Entry on the GMC Specialist Register via:
• -CCT (proposed CCT date must be within 6 months of interview) CESR (or) international applicants should comply with the GMC specialty registration process: https://www.gmc-uk.org/news/news-archive/brexit---information-for-doctors

Desirable

• He/she able to demonstrate ability to undertake the role of resuscitative surgeon required within the Leeds Major Trauma Centre
• Previous experience of supervising research by junior staff.
• Previous attendance on Appraisal Techniques and Small Group Teaching Workshops.
• Attendance at recognised management course.

Qualifications

Essential

• FRCS or equivalent qualification.
• Eligible for full registration with the GMC at time of appointment and hold a current licence to practice.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.
• Is up to date and fit to practise safely
• All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues demonstrated by one of the following:
• Applicants have undertaken undergraduate medical training in English.
• OR
• Achieved the minimum score of 7 across all 4 of the following categories in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. (An overall minimum score of 7.5)
• OR
• Achieved the minimum Grade B across all 4 of the following categories in the Occupational English Test (OET) in medicine in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. (You must provide your candidate number)

Desirable

• Relevant higher degree.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Employer's website

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)