Icu Consultant

There are 9 bed spaces, including a cubicle, with current staffing for up to 8 patients, admitting approximately 840 patients per year. There is executive approval for a 13 bedded rebuild. The unit has 9 consultants with daytime and on call sessions in ICU all of whom have ICU as a major element of their job plan. Thus a consultant rota of 1 in 9 with prospective cover operates. The unit has 24/7 cover by consultants with daytime sessions in ICU, with 2 consultants per day - a ‘hot week’ consultant (to provide continuity) and a 24hour consultant, who is on call.

There is specific clerical time allocated for ICNARC data collection and the unit has a clinical information system (Metavision) which integrates patient observations, medical and nursing notes, prescribing and results systems at the bedside. This has ongoing customisation which has provided the ICU with a wealth of data capture opportunities. 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.

An active Critical Care Outreach Service which is delivered by a team of experienced nursing staff. Lead for outreach is Dr Mark Holliday.

As stated above there will be increased cross site working between the 2 ICUs with contribution from CIC consultants to WCH staffing to reflect the high medical demand of the ICU plus the increased need for patient transfer for major surgery at CIC. The provision of 24/7 intensive care consultant led service is a high priority for WCH and is reflected in the move to cross site working and in this advertisement. Resident staffing has been supported by recruitment of Advanced Critical Care nurse Practitioners and the long term strategy is for a dedicated ICU resident on the WCH site.

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of ‘safe, high quality care every time':
Being a clinically led organisation

Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust

A positive patient experience every time

A great place to work

Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

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 g-i, 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. Cumberland Infirmary is a vascular centre. There has been a recent expansion of vascular services, now with 5 full day vascular lists.

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. Currently there is also an established obstetric epidural service at CIC. The Consultant Lead for obstetric anaesthesia is Dr Chris Dickson.

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 ongoing CPD enables members of the department to maintain their skills for management of paediatric emergencies that inevitably present.