Consultant Anaesthetist

We require enthusiastic and dynamic Anaesthetic Consultantswith special interest in Regional Anaesthesia and/or Major Surgeryto join our Department of Anaesthetics in Theatres and Critical Care Directorate.

Our two hospitals offer a varied scope of practice, with emergency and elective surgery split across the two sites. The Tunbridge Wells Hospital is the hub for emergency General surgery, Paediatrics, ENT, Lower GI, Bariatric surgery, Gynaecology, Obstetric services and Trauma surgery, while Ophthalmic, Urology, Upper GI, Breast and Gynae-oncology surgery is based at Maidstone Hospital.

There are opportunities to develop personal interests in amongst other things management, research, governance, perioperative medicine, long term vascular access and medical education within the new Kent medical school.

Additionally, the Trust is in the process of developing the new Kent and Medway Orthopaedic theatre complex at Maidstone Hospital which will provide capacity for an estimated 5,000 procedures per year. The new facility will consist of three open-plan laminar flow theatres, a all within a ‘super-green’ building.

Once complete, the theatres will expand orthopaedic surgical capacity at MTW and provide increased capacity across Kent, Medway and East Sussex. Currently, the build is on track for the opening in March 2024.

Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre walkthrough - YouTube

Participate in clinical and other service activities and developments with the aim of ensuring a high standard of patient care across the Trust.

Work in close co-operation with other medical, professional and managerial colleagues, both within and outside the specialty, to provide high quality health care to the Trust’s patients, and to make a contribution to future thinking about the Trust’s strategic direction.

The successful applicants will be involved in the whole patient pathway from Preoperative assessment through to discharge, providing safe, exceptional care.

The Trust provides general hospital services to a population of approximately 480,000 in West Kent and North East Sussex, and some specialist services to a considerably larger population. Around 120,000 new patients present each year to the Emergency departments. Its major hospitals are the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury and Maidstone Hospital. The Trust’s Headquarters are at Maidstone Hospital. The Trust Chairman is Mr David Highton, the Chief Executive is Mr Miles Scott and the Medical Director is Dr Peter Maskell. The Chief Operating Officer is Mr Sean Briggs.

Anaesthesia is part of Theatres and Critical care directorate which lies within the trusts Division of Surgery. Other directorates within the division include Trauma and Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Specialist surgeries and Head and Neck services.

We are a major orthopaedic centre and a new ringfenced orthopaedic block is under construction on the Maidstone site which will include 3 barn theatres. In the trust orthopaedics perform a full range of upper and lower limb procedures including specialist pelvic and paediatric surgery. We have a full complement of US machines and provide some lists dedicated to awake, block only surgery. There is scope for further service improvement with development of a continuous nerve block catheter service and the potential to establish block lists for foot and ankle surgery under sedation.

To participate fully in and share leadership of the clinical governance of the specialty covering its Trust-wide activities. To attend clinical governance half-days as detailed in the Trust’s Guide to Job Planning unless on agreed leave or while attending emergencies.

To participate actively in departmental audits, sharing co-ordination of audit activities within the department and implementation of change.

To take an active responsibility for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, training and supervision.

To assume responsibility, both personally and corporately with consultant colleagues, for the management of junior medical staff. You are expected to be involved in their professional development, both clinical and personal as per guidance from the Deanery.