The successful candidate will have a job plan covering both elective and emergency operating theatres. Elective theatre lists will be at both the Halton and Warrington sites and will consist of a mixture of solo lists (with a nominated consultant mentor) and directly supervised lists, doubled up with a consultant.  The elective work will therefore allow for skill development in regional anaesthesia and in managing ASA 1-3 patients for elective surgery within a supportive environment. 

The emergency component of the job will involve covering the 1st on call anaesthetist rota (emergency operating theatre and calls to the emergency department) and there will also be some weekend sessions working as the duty maternity anaesthetist. Support to each of these roles will be provided by the consultant anaesthetist on call.  

The weekly hours will not exceed 48 hours, and the rota will be compliant with European Working Time Regulations. 

The appointee is expected to take responsibility for his/her own continuing professional development, as outlined in Good Medical Practice. They will be encouraged and supported to consolidate and develop their existing medical knowledge, as well as their technical, non-technical skills and professional capabilities. Opportunities are available in areas such as clinical education, simulation, audit and quality improvement. Although this is designated a non-training post, the successful candidate will be given the opportunity to attend trainee teaching sessions depending on the staffing level and workload of theatres that day. Ongoing training will be supervised by the College Tutor for Anaesthesia (currently Dr. Z Apple), and will be subject to regular assessment and appraisal. We have a strong history in successfully supporting fellows through higher professional exams and the interview process for substantive training posts  

The Anaesthetic department has an ethos of audit and QI projects activity which is supported by the Trust and delivers several ongoing projects. The has achieved ACSA recognition status and therefore there are several different opportunities to take up with regards to maintaining this status such as policy writing, audits, QI projects. You will be supported by one of the Anaesthetic consultants to undertake either an ongoing project or to start a new one. Audit/QI activity helps to progress the department and will benefit your CV for ongoing jobs in the future. The ICU and Anaesthetics department have in situ simulation sessions and a monthly audit and morbidity and mortality meetings, which the candidate will be encouraged to attend.  

The junior doctor accepts that he/she will also perform additional duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the appropriate consultant, in consultation where practicable with colleagues both senior and junior. It has been agreed between the professions and the department, that while juniors accept that they will perform such duties, the Secretary of State stresses that additional commitments arising under this sub section are exceptional and in particular that juniors should not be required to undertake work of this kind for prolonged periods or on a regular basis. This means that in circumstances where colleagues fall ill, you may be requested to cover their out-of-hours duties.  

This job description outlines the current main responsibilities of the post. However, the duties of the post may change and develop over time and this job description may, therefore, be amended in consultation with the post holder.