Job summary
There are 2 posts. The post are to support 2 new operating theatres due to be opened in the summer of 2024 providing 30 + new elective theatre sessions. They are available on a whole time/ less than full time / job share basis as appropriate (10.0 PAs). Each job is for 6 months initially. These posts 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 Whiston and St Helens Hospitals.
Due to the short-term nature of the role and service demand, the successful candidate must hold full registration with the GMC and have existing right to live and work in the UK, at the time of application. Candidates who are not GMC registered or do not hold existing right to live and work in the UK, at the time of application will not progress through the shortlisting stage.
Applicants are required to hold to be fully registered with the General Medical Council, and to be on the Specialist Register for Anaesthesia or due to obtain their Specialist Registration within six months of the date of interview. CESR candidates must have applied, and their application be in progress or approved.
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Main duties of the job
On call/emergency commitments
Out of hours, there is a 3-tier resident on-call service. Tiers 1 and 2 comprise trainees of which one is primarily for obstetrics duties. The 3rd Tier is staffed by Speciality Doctors.
The 1st on call Consultant is required to liaise closely with the 2nd on call Consultant. The 2nd On Call Consultant Anaesthetist would attend at the request of the 1st On Call Consultant Anaesthetist.
There is a consultant anaesthetic delivered weekend and public holiday orthopaedic trauma service providing all day (08:00 to 18:00) cover.
There are 4 weekend plastic surgical trauma sessions, two of which benefit from anaesthetic cover.
Weekend Elective Activity
There is significant "Out-of-Hours" (OOHs) elective activity. This activity provides increased capacity required to meet clinical targets and is in line with the NHS moving toward seven day working. Historically this came under the term "Waiting List Initiative" activity but increasingly this being undertaken as part of consultants fixed job plans.
The appointees will be required to take part in the on-call rota, and/or other weekend and public holiday work which may include orthopaedic trauma service rota, the weekend plastic surgical trauma lists and OOHs elective workload subject to appropriate job planning and the varying requirements of the trust.
About us
The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
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.
Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:
- CAREthat is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
- SAFETY that is of the highest standards
- COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
- SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
- PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients
Our achievements include:
- Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Supporting Professional Activity
Whole Time Equivalents (WTEs) are provided with 1.0 PAs for Core Supporting Professional Activity (SPA); to meet the requirements of continuing professional development, enhanced appraisal and revalidation, audit, teaching and educational supervision of trainees.
Elective Work
Each list / pain session is allocated 5.0 hours or 1.25 PAs of planned activity, which includes pre-operative assessment, theatre time, recovery and post-operative care. The job plan will have 6.2 elective lists per week initially, subject to the requirements of the emergency workload and SPA time.
Principal Accountabilities
The post-holder will:
- Be expected to undertake his/her share of general anaesthetic duties according to the outline given above.
- Provide advice on complex clinical, patient management problems and interdisciplinary planning treatment. He/she should provide second opinions for patients at the request of consultant colleagues.
- Be expected to take an active part in continuing medical education.
- Provide clinical training for trainee staff and undergraduate students.
- Be expected to participate in Audit and will be encouraged to pursue research activities.
- Be encouraged to contribute to the management of the Department with the objective of improving the service.
- Be encouraged to use subspecialty anaesthetic interests of benefit to the trust and the trusts patients.
- Be expected to comply with the General Medical council principles listed in Good Medical Practice
Along with members of the consultant team the post-holder should provide the Trust with advice on the specification and contracts for medical services drawn up by the purchasers.
This job description seeks only to illustrate the major areas of work for this post, it is not an exhaustive list. The description may be altered by the Trust, after consultation with the post-holders, when operational requirements demand.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Applicants must hold full registration with the GMC at the time of application.
- MBBS or equivalent medical qualification.
- FRCA Diploma or equivalent medical qualification.
- Minimum of 7 years' experience in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care with at least 3 years in the NHS.
- Applicants that are non-UK trained must have applied for CESR and the application be in progress or approved.
Desirable
- MD/PHD or equivalent medical qualification.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of anaesthetic management of obstetric patients (Intermediate ST3/4 or equivalent)
- General Duties Anaesthesia (Stage 3 or equivalent)
Desirable
- Subspecialty Anaesthetic Interest of benefit to the Trust and patients.
- Subspecialty Anaesthetic Training and Accreditation
- Obstetric Anaesthesia (Stage 3 or equivalent)
- Orthopaedic Anaesthesia (Stage 3 or equivalent)
Skills
Essential
- Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems
- Capacity to operate under pressure. Demonstrates initiative & resilience to cope with changing circumstances
- Demonstrates ability to undertake robust audit within team structure within the last 3 years
- Knowledge and understanding of research methodology in Anaesthesia
- Evidence of appropriate teaching experience within the last 3 years
- Experience of teaching medical under-graduates, operating theatre staff and other non medical staff.
- Ability to teach and train postgraduate doctors in the theory and practice of anaesthesia
- Demonstrates clarity in written/spoken communication & capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation
Desirable
- Evidence of relevant academic achievements, e.g. degrees, awards, in the last 3 years.
- Peer reviewed recent publications (impact factor 1 or greater within 5 years) in the field of anaesthesia
- Evidence of achieving GMC standards to be recognised as an Educational Supervisor
- Formal training in theory and practice of clinical teaching and methods of appraisal and assessment of trainees in anaesthesia
Other
Essential
- Capacity to manage/prioritise time and information effectively.
- Basic word processing, database, spreadsheet and presentational Skills
Desirable
- Broad awareness of NHS organisation and day to day management of Anaesthetic Department
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 .
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 .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website .
Employer details
Employer name
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Whiston Hospital
Warrington Road
Prescot
L35 5DR