Consultant Anaesthetist

We are looking to welcome a consultant anaesthetist to our large, cohesive and forward-looking department.

We are the largest hospital in the Southwest Peninsula, and offer a secondary care service to approximately 500 000 patients, and a tertiary care service to a further 1.5 million. We are a major trauma centre. Almost all adult surgical specialties are catered for, including cardiac, neurosurgery, thoracics and paediatrics. A successful applicant will be joining a welcoming and friendly department that has held ACSA Accreditation since 2015 and 2019 and is proud of its collegiate spirit. We have a strong track record in clinical excellence & translational research, and receive very positive feedback from our rotating trainees. We understand the need to accommodate a healthy work life balance and aim to support flexible working. We have a lively social programme and a dedicated anaesthetic coffee room, known as the 'Back Bar'.

We are located on the Devon/Cornwall border with access to all the amenities of a metropolitan city, yet moments away from the moors and sea.

This post is for a substantive consultant anaesthetist capable of delivering high quality anaesthesia. These duties include but are not limited to teaching, continuing medical education and quality improvement activities.

The post holder will be expected to participate in the general on-call rota that covers general surgery, obstetrics, major trauma and neurosurgery. There are separate on call rotas for paediatrics, ICU and cardiac.

The successful applicant may be asked to participate in the provision of anaesthetic services for operating lists that start earlier than the normal start times or are planned to run on into the late evening. Cover for weekend elective, emergency and trauma anaesthetic cover will also be required. This will be agreed with the service line director and an appropriate allocation of programmed activities will be agreed for this work.

The enclosed job plan is indicative and may change following service development to meet the requirements of the service and the interests of the post holder.

It is expected that the post holder will also have clinical commitments to other adult anaesthesia subspecialties and will therefore be required to maintain generalist skills in anaesthesia practice.

The Anaesthesia Service Line comprises 64 consultants (7 military), 5 staff grade & associate specialist doctors, and approximately 40 trainees. Further contributions are made from colleagues from pain services and critical care. Cardiothoracic anaesthesia is provided by colleagues from the cardiothoracic service line. Although large, we have a reputation for being supportive and friendly. We deliver >20 000 PA of direct clinical care per annum in both the operating theatres and wider hospital environment. There are over 30 operating theatres and other areas where anaesthesia contributes.

We pride ourselves in being a progressive, fun, dedicated department, with monthly departmental business meetings, regular and ad hoc CPD sessions and a fantastic anaesthetic coffee room (“The Back Bar”) which enable the development of strong personal and professional bonds within the department.

From a management perspective we are a separate directorate with the surgical care group but work together to ensure efficient use of resources and to discuss future strategic policies.

Plymouth is described as Britain's ocean city, offering an excellent work-life balance and plenty of opportunity to make the most of the outdoors

Job plans typically start with 1.5 generic SPA.

We run a 1st on call rota, backed up by a 2ndon call consultant for anaesthesia (not cardiac, ICU or paediatrics). When 1st on call you need to be within 30 minutes of the hospital. For 2nd on call, it is 45 minutes. There are resident trainees in obstetrics and the emergency theatre (as well as ICU and cardiac ICU).

We have regular evening trauma lists and cover the emergency stroke thrombectomy service. There are weekend emergency and trauma lists, as well as a number of waiting list initiatives for elective work.

We would be more than happy to discuss elements of the job, rota or any other queries.