Job summary
The post offer exciting opportunities for highly motivated anaesthetists to join a dynamic, expanding team delivering multidisciplinary acute care in Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust based at Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
Applicants are required to hold Membership of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (UK or equivalent qualifications), to be fully registered with the General Medical Council, and to be on the Specialist Register or due to obtain their CCT within six months of the date of interview. CESR candidates must have written GMC confirmation of successful application.
Interviews will take place on Tuesday 4th March, 2025 at Whiston Hospital L35 5DR.
Main duties of the job
The Department provides anaesthetic services for elective surgery in: General Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burns Surgery, Urology, ENT, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic Surgery and Gynaecology. The Trust has taken delivery of a surgical robot. The first robot assisted operation took place at the end of April 2022. Currently Colorectal, Gynaecological and urological robotic surgery is well established. The Trust is the only Trust in Merseyside undertaking emergency and elective Bariatric surgery.
The department also provides emergency anaesthetic cover for these services on a 24 - hour basis.
Surgery in the Trust is undertaken on both the Ormskirk Hospital and Southport Hospital sites.
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our Services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information regarding the main responsibilities and requirements essential for this role please refer to the supporting documents heading and review the job description and person specification which will outline the duties of the role including a proposed job plan.
- Participation in the provision of critical care and anaesthetic services to the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.
- To participate in the provision of a combination of services, split between the two hospital sites namely Southport & Formby District General Hospital and Ormskirk District General Hospital.
- Provision of anaesthetic services for the variety of district general surgical services for adults and children.
- The post holder will participate in a consultant on call rota (1 in 8) which will involve emergency out of hours cover for emergency anaesthesia, admissions to, and ongoing care of patients in ICU, emergency anaesthetic cover for the maternity unit, and anaesthetic assistance in the stabilisation of critically ill children.
- The post holder will be jointly responsible with consultant colleagues for the proper functioning of the department.
- The post holder will be expected to take part in the administrative work relevant to his / her clinical and professional commitment.
- The post holder will be expected to take an active part, with the other Consultant Anaesthetists, in teaching undergraduate students, postgraduate doctors and other allied healthcare professionals.
- The post holder will be expected to take an active part in local, regional and national audit and QIPs, as well as attend MDTs, audit and M & M meetings.
- The post holder will be expected to fulfil the requirements of appraisal and revalidation.
- The post holder will be required to provide cover for colleagues during periods of absence.
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
A £338 million (PFI) investment has re-built and modernised both Whiston and St Helens Hospitals, resulting in modern state of the art health care facilities for the treatment and care of patients. St Helens Hospital was completed in 2008 and Whiston Hospital in 2010. The hospitals include 887 inpatient beds with state-of-the-art CT and MRI facilities existing on both hospital sites. CT and MRI scanners at St Helens have also recently been upgraded including installation of a high field 3 Tesla MRI scanner. The DEXA scanner is also located at St Helens Hospital.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk, and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery, and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
As a Trust, our aim is to provide a high-quality service to all patients. We strive to meet the best standards for professional care whilst being sensitive and responsive to the needs of individual patients. Our valued workforce is recognised for their unique skills and talents with our teams of experts winning national awards on a regular basis.
Whiston Hospital
Whiston Hospital a busy teaching hospital which provides a comprehensive range of acute Medical and Surgical Services, Emergency Services, Maternity Services, Paediatrics and Medicine for Older People. The Regional Burns and Plastic Surgery Units are also based on this site. There is a Critical Care Unit consisting of ICU, HDU, CCU and an onsite Cardiac Catheter Laboratory. The stroke consultants deliver 24/7 thrombolysis to eligible patients presenting with acute stroke. There is a 30-bed Stroke Unit which accommodates both acute stroke patients and those with rehabilitation needs.
St Helens Hospital
St Helens Hospital is an Ambulatory Care Centre providing Intermediate Care and Day Surgery. Rheumatology, Dermatology and Diabetes services are based on this site and within easy reach of other acute specialties at Whiston Hospital.
Southport Hospital
Southport Hospital is a General Hospital that includes adults accident and emergency services, intensive care, and a range of medical and surgical specialities. There is also an outpatients service. The North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport hospital provides specialist care for spinal patients from across the North West, North Wales, and the Isle of Man.
The hospital, which replaced the Southport General Infirmary and the Southport Promenade Hospital, opened in September 1988.
Ormskirk Hospital
Ormskirk Hospital is a General Hospital and provides womens and childrens services, including accident and emergency services, surgery, and maternity care.
The hospital provides these services for patients living across West Lancashire, Southport, and Formby.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information regarding the main responsibilities and requirements essential for this role please refer to the supporting documents heading and review the job description and person specification which will outline the duties of the role including a proposed job plan.
- Participation in the provision of critical care and anaesthetic services to the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.
- To participate in the provision of a combination of services, split between the two hospital sites namely Southport & Formby District General Hospital and Ormskirk District General Hospital.
- Provision of anaesthetic services for the variety of district general surgical services for adults and children.
- The post holder will participate in a consultant on call rota (1 in 8) which will involve emergency out of hours cover for emergency anaesthesia, admissions to, and ongoing care of patients in ICU, emergency anaesthetic cover for the maternity unit, and anaesthetic assistance in the stabilisation of critically ill children.
- The post holder will be jointly responsible with consultant colleagues for the proper functioning of the department.
- The post holder will be expected to take part in the administrative work relevant to his / her clinical and professional commitment.
- The post holder will be expected to take an active part, with the other Consultant Anaesthetists, in teaching undergraduate students, postgraduate doctors and other allied healthcare professionals.
- The post holder will be expected to take an active part in local, regional and national audit and QIPs, as well as attend MDTs, audit and M & M meetings.
- The post holder will be expected to fulfil the requirements of appraisal and revalidation.
- The post holder will be required to provide cover for colleagues during periods of absence.
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
A £338 million (PFI) investment has re-built and modernised both Whiston and St Helens Hospitals, resulting in modern state of the art health care facilities for the treatment and care of patients. St Helens Hospital was completed in 2008 and Whiston Hospital in 2010. The hospitals include 887 inpatient beds with state-of-the-art CT and MRI facilities existing on both hospital sites. CT and MRI scanners at St Helens have also recently been upgraded including installation of a high field 3 Tesla MRI scanner. The DEXA scanner is also located at St Helens Hospital.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk, and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery, and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
As a Trust, our aim is to provide a high-quality service to all patients. We strive to meet the best standards for professional care whilst being sensitive and responsive to the needs of individual patients. Our valued workforce is recognised for their unique skills and talents with our teams of experts winning national awards on a regular basis.
Whiston Hospital
Whiston Hospital a busy teaching hospital which provides a comprehensive range of acute Medical and Surgical Services, Emergency Services, Maternity Services, Paediatrics and Medicine for Older People. The Regional Burns and Plastic Surgery Units are also based on this site. There is a Critical Care Unit consisting of ICU, HDU, CCU and an onsite Cardiac Catheter Laboratory. The stroke consultants deliver 24/7 thrombolysis to eligible patients presenting with acute stroke. There is a 30-bed Stroke Unit which accommodates both acute stroke patients and those with rehabilitation needs.
St Helens Hospital
St Helens Hospital is an Ambulatory Care Centre providing Intermediate Care and Day Surgery. Rheumatology, Dermatology and Diabetes services are based on this site and within easy reach of other acute specialties at Whiston Hospital.
Southport Hospital
Southport Hospital is a General Hospital that includes adults accident and emergency services, intensive care, and a range of medical and surgical specialities. There is also an outpatients service. The North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport hospital provides specialist care for spinal patients from across the North West, North Wales, and the Isle of Man.
The hospital, which replaced the Southport General Infirmary and the Southport Promenade Hospital, opened in September 1988.
Ormskirk Hospital
Ormskirk Hospital is a General Hospital and provides womens and childrens services, including accident and emergency services, surgery, and maternity care.
The hospital provides these services for patients living across West Lancashire, Southport, and Formby.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full GMC registration and on Specialist Register or within six months of receipt of Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or equivalent at time of interview CESR candidates must have written GMC confirmation of successful application
- MB ChB or equivalent medical qualification
- FRCA or equivalent
Desirable
- MD/MSc or equivalent medical qualification
Knowledge Experience and Skills
Essential
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience: Minimum of 12 months recent experience of working in anaesthesia within the NHS
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Advanced Training in ICM or equivalent
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Successful completion of Higher Training, or equivalent, in General Duties, including the following non-essential Units of Training: 1. General, urological, and gynaecological surgery 2. Obstetrics
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Successful completion of Higher Training, or equivalent, in Paediatric Anaesthesia
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Ability to stabilise and provide initial management of the critically ill and/or emergency anaesthetic patient.
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Current ALS Provider
- Management/Leadership/Audit: Understanding of the management and leadership responsibilities of a consultant within the NHS
- Management/Leadership/Audit: Evidence of active and consistent engagement with clinical audit and/ or QIP(s)
- Teaching; Recognition by the GMC as a Clinical Supervisor
- Teaching; Evidence of delivering teaching to undergraduate students, postgraduate doctors and/ or allied healthcare professionals
- Professional Interests: Knowledge of the up-to-date literature
- Excellent verbal and written English skills
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills, approachability, and ability to motivate and develop others
- Ability to lead change and the development of services and promote excellence and best practice
Desirable
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Joint or Dual CCT in ICM and Anaesthesia
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience 6-month attachment for Higher Training in Paediatric Anaesthesia
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Knowledge, skills and/ or experience of developing a maternal critical care service
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Focused Intensive Care Echo (FICE) accreditation
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Current APLS Provider
- Management/Leadership/Audit: Good IT and computing skills.
- Management/Leadership/Audit: Completion of appropriate management/ leadership course(s)
- Management/Leadership/Audit: Previous participation in a management/ leadership role
- Teaching; Recognition by the GMC as an Educational Supervisor
- Teaching; Formal training/ qualification in Teaching and/or Learning
- Teaching; Life support course instructor
- Research Publications: Evidence of recent and current research, with relevant publications
- Research Publications: Formal training in Research Methodology
- Professional Interests: Membership of appropriate professional society (ies).
Other
Essential
- Caring and responsible attitude to colleagues
- Ability to travel between sites within service requirements
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full GMC registration and on Specialist Register or within six months of receipt of Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or equivalent at time of interview CESR candidates must have written GMC confirmation of successful application
- MB ChB or equivalent medical qualification
- FRCA or equivalent
Desirable
- MD/MSc or equivalent medical qualification
Knowledge Experience and Skills
Essential
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience: Minimum of 12 months recent experience of working in anaesthesia within the NHS
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Advanced Training in ICM or equivalent
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Successful completion of Higher Training, or equivalent, in General Duties, including the following non-essential Units of Training: 1. General, urological, and gynaecological surgery 2. Obstetrics
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Successful completion of Higher Training, or equivalent, in Paediatric Anaesthesia
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Ability to stabilise and provide initial management of the critically ill and/or emergency anaesthetic patient.
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Current ALS Provider
- Management/Leadership/Audit: Understanding of the management and leadership responsibilities of a consultant within the NHS
- Management/Leadership/Audit: Evidence of active and consistent engagement with clinical audit and/ or QIP(s)
- Teaching; Recognition by the GMC as a Clinical Supervisor
- Teaching; Evidence of delivering teaching to undergraduate students, postgraduate doctors and/ or allied healthcare professionals
- Professional Interests: Knowledge of the up-to-date literature
- Excellent verbal and written English skills
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills, approachability, and ability to motivate and develop others
- Ability to lead change and the development of services and promote excellence and best practice
Desirable
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Joint or Dual CCT in ICM and Anaesthesia
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience 6-month attachment for Higher Training in Paediatric Anaesthesia
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Knowledge, skills and/ or experience of developing a maternal critical care service
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Focused Intensive Care Echo (FICE) accreditation
- Clinical Knowledge, Training and Experience Current APLS Provider
- Management/Leadership/Audit: Good IT and computing skills.
- Management/Leadership/Audit: Completion of appropriate management/ leadership course(s)
- Management/Leadership/Audit: Previous participation in a management/ leadership role
- Teaching; Recognition by the GMC as an Educational Supervisor
- Teaching; Formal training/ qualification in Teaching and/or Learning
- Teaching; Life support course instructor
- Research Publications: Evidence of recent and current research, with relevant publications
- Research Publications: Formal training in Research Methodology
- Professional Interests: Membership of appropriate professional society (ies).
Other
Essential
- Caring and responsible attitude to colleagues
- Ability to travel between sites within service requirements
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
