Job summary
We are delighted to be able to offer an opportunity for a highly motivated, ambitious individual to join our well integrated team.
This post is available from September 2025 for 12 months.
The surgical caseload in this tertiary referral centre consists of approximately 1200 adult cardiac cases per year, including transplantation, aortic surgery, VAD implantation, and adult congenital. There is a well-developed thoracic surgery and cardiopulmonary transplantation programme. We do 30-35 ECMO cases per year, mainly VA ECMO. We provide critical care support to our tertiary cardiology services which include primary PCI, heart failure, TAVI and advanced life support. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography is widely used and taught. There is ample opportunity for clinical research and audit.
In addition to the challenges of the role, we can offer you a commitment to teaching, education, research and audit.
In addition to the challenges of the role, we can offer you a commitment to teaching, education, research and audit.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please read attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Main duties of the job
The post is suitable for those candidates who wish to take time out of their training programme or who are already accredited and wish to further training and experience in or cardiothoracic intensive care. It would suit and can be tailored to the needs of applicants from various disciplines such as Anaesthesia, Critical Care, Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery/Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia
For an informal discussion and further information regarding the opportunity and Directorate, please contact: Dr Vikrant Pathania on 0191 2336161 ext: 37488, or via email at Vikrant.pathania@nhs.net or Dr Abraham Samuel on 0191 2336161 ext: 27488, or via email at Abraham.samuel@nhs.net
Please read attached Job Description and Person Specification.
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 16,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion. We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post is based in our Cardiothoracic Intensive Care unit. The unit has twenty one level three beds (six isolation cubicles) and seven level two beds in an adjoining area. Duties are based in these areas but extend to support deteriorating patients on the wards, support for cardiology emergencies and accompanying patients during transport to other centres.
Intensive care for adult cardiac patients - please read attached Job Description
Echocardiography
The appointee will have the opportunity to acquire a working knowledge of the fundamentals of echocardiography during the tenure of the post. The cardiothoracic anaesthetic department runs a week long TOE course twice a year. The appointee will be encouraged to get accredited with British Society of Echocardiography or European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging in Trans-oseophageal Echo with all possible help for theory exams and collection of cases for logbook.
Post-operative analgesia techniques, with special reference to thoracic surgery
Attendance on pain ward rounds is offered.
Cardiothoracic Theatres
Post is predominantly in ITU however attendance/experience in cardiothoracic theatres can be offered according to convenience of the department.
Audit and research
The appointee will be encouraged to undertake audit and research projects during the post.
Education
The appointee will be encouraged to participate in teaching for medical students, nursing staff and less experienced trainees, and to undertake the preparation of topical reviews. There are weekly departmental educational meetings which are co-ordinated by the Specialist Trainees.
On-call
There is a 2-tier rotational trainee / fellow rota, with advanced critical care practitioners participating in the first tier rota. A rotating ST3+ from the Northern region or an ACCP will be on a full shift rota covering ITU mainly. The appointee will be 2nd on-call on a full rota covering predominantly ITU, but providing support to theatres if required or appropriate.
The Trust Fellow appointed to this post will be allocated a consultant educational supervisor. He/she will be expected to maintain a logbook of activity, to ensure that his/her training can be easily reviewed and optimised in conjunction with the educational supervisor. This logbook should be made available for external assessment if required.
In line with the Trusts core value of placing patients at the heart of everything we do, we are developing our service provision to be responsive to the needs of our patients. To meet those needs some staff groups will be increasingly asked to work a more flexible work pattern so that they can offer services in the evening or weekend. As a result any offer of employment to a consultant post will be subject to you agreeing to work a new more flexible pattern or working in the future if required, including evening and weekend work.
Please read attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post is based in our Cardiothoracic Intensive Care unit. The unit has twenty one level three beds (six isolation cubicles) and seven level two beds in an adjoining area. Duties are based in these areas but extend to support deteriorating patients on the wards, support for cardiology emergencies and accompanying patients during transport to other centres.
Intensive care for adult cardiac patients - please read attached Job Description
Echocardiography
The appointee will have the opportunity to acquire a working knowledge of the fundamentals of echocardiography during the tenure of the post. The cardiothoracic anaesthetic department runs a week long TOE course twice a year. The appointee will be encouraged to get accredited with British Society of Echocardiography or European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging in Trans-oseophageal Echo with all possible help for theory exams and collection of cases for logbook.
Post-operative analgesia techniques, with special reference to thoracic surgery
Attendance on pain ward rounds is offered.
Cardiothoracic Theatres
Post is predominantly in ITU however attendance/experience in cardiothoracic theatres can be offered according to convenience of the department.
Audit and research
The appointee will be encouraged to undertake audit and research projects during the post.
Education
The appointee will be encouraged to participate in teaching for medical students, nursing staff and less experienced trainees, and to undertake the preparation of topical reviews. There are weekly departmental educational meetings which are co-ordinated by the Specialist Trainees.
On-call
There is a 2-tier rotational trainee / fellow rota, with advanced critical care practitioners participating in the first tier rota. A rotating ST3+ from the Northern region or an ACCP will be on a full shift rota covering ITU mainly. The appointee will be 2nd on-call on a full rota covering predominantly ITU, but providing support to theatres if required or appropriate.
The Trust Fellow appointed to this post will be allocated a consultant educational supervisor. He/she will be expected to maintain a logbook of activity, to ensure that his/her training can be easily reviewed and optimised in conjunction with the educational supervisor. This logbook should be made available for external assessment if required.
In line with the Trusts core value of placing patients at the heart of everything we do, we are developing our service provision to be responsive to the needs of our patients. To meet those needs some staff groups will be increasingly asked to work a more flexible work pattern so that they can offer services in the evening or weekend. As a result any offer of employment to a consultant post will be subject to you agreeing to work a new more flexible pattern or working in the future if required, including evening and weekend work.
Please read attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- MBBS or equivalent
- Must hold full GMC registration or be eligible to obtain full GMC registration within 3 months.
- Working towards FFICM, FRCA, MRCP or similar
Desirable
- Other relevant qualifications (ALS, ATLS, CcrISP, EDIC, FFICM).
Clinical Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Good history and examination skills.
- Ability to formulate a differential diagnosis
- Able to order appropriate investigations
- Able to manage common medical emergencies and ongoing management in critical care.
- Knows when to appropriately seek assistance from a senior colleague.
Desirable
- Neat, legible writing of notes/charts
- Computer skills.
- Experience in Echocardiography
- Previous NHS Experience
Maintaining Clinical Competence
Essential
- In 4th year or equivalent of SpR training.
- Evidence of smooth progression through training programmes
Teaching
Essential
- Have experience in teaching undergraduate medical students, foundation year 1 doctors, nursing or allied health professional staff
Desirable
- Willingness to develop new approaches to teaching and learning
- Postgraduate diploma in medical education
Clinical Governance, Audit and Research
Essential
- Experience of Audit projects
- Understanding of research principles
Desirable
- Current Good Clinical Practice certification
- Active in research
Communication, Relationships and Working with Colleagues
Essential
- To be clear, fluent and articulate in communication in English
- Experience and ability to work in multi-professional teams
- Able to prioritise work appropriately
- Able to take a clinical leadership role where an acute situation demands
Desirable
- Ability to organise
- Willingness to take part in departmental organisation
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Alignment with the Trust's Values.
- Flexible approach to service delivery and committed approach to development
- A commitment to personal / unit CPD
- Time management skills
- Honesty, integrity, awareness of ethical dilemmas, respect for confidentiality
Desirable
- Evidence of leadership skills
- IT literate.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- MBBS or equivalent
- Must hold full GMC registration or be eligible to obtain full GMC registration within 3 months.
- Working towards FFICM, FRCA, MRCP or similar
Desirable
- Other relevant qualifications (ALS, ATLS, CcrISP, EDIC, FFICM).
Clinical Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Good history and examination skills.
- Ability to formulate a differential diagnosis
- Able to order appropriate investigations
- Able to manage common medical emergencies and ongoing management in critical care.
- Knows when to appropriately seek assistance from a senior colleague.
Desirable
- Neat, legible writing of notes/charts
- Computer skills.
- Experience in Echocardiography
- Previous NHS Experience
Maintaining Clinical Competence
Essential
- In 4th year or equivalent of SpR training.
- Evidence of smooth progression through training programmes
Teaching
Essential
- Have experience in teaching undergraduate medical students, foundation year 1 doctors, nursing or allied health professional staff
Desirable
- Willingness to develop new approaches to teaching and learning
- Postgraduate diploma in medical education
Clinical Governance, Audit and Research
Essential
- Experience of Audit projects
- Understanding of research principles
Desirable
- Current Good Clinical Practice certification
- Active in research
Communication, Relationships and Working with Colleagues
Essential
- To be clear, fluent and articulate in communication in English
- Experience and ability to work in multi-professional teams
- Able to prioritise work appropriately
- Able to take a clinical leadership role where an acute situation demands
Desirable
- Ability to organise
- Willingness to take part in departmental organisation
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Alignment with the Trust's Values.
- Flexible approach to service delivery and committed approach to development
- A commitment to personal / unit CPD
- Time management skills
- Honesty, integrity, awareness of ethical dilemmas, respect for confidentiality
Desirable
- Evidence of leadership skills
- IT literate.
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
