Job overview

ABUHB is one of seven acute Local Health Boards in Wales. It provides acute, community and mental healthcare services to more than 670,000 people living in southeast Wales and is one of the largest and busiest NHS health boards/trusts in the UK.

The Grange University Hospital (GUH) has approximately 450 acute beds, 11 operating theatres, additional hybrid theatres for interventional radiology, endoscopy and cardiology services. It has a busy maternity unit with more than 5000 deliveries per year. The anaesthetic and surgical services provide for general, orthopaedic, ENT, ophthalmic, maxillofacial surgery, urology and gynaecology. GUH is the centre for specialist and critical care services, which opened in November 2020. The Royal Gwent Hospital (RGH), Nevill Hall Hospital (NHH) and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr (YYF) are collectively known as enhanced local general hospitals (eLGHs). GUH service provisions include critical care services, emergency surgery, hyper acute stroke care, as well as 7-day specialist input in cardiology, respiratory and gastroenterology.

 The advertised post is for a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Acute Medicine based at the Grange University Hospital Critical Care Unit near Cwmbran. The successful candidate will have a 10-session contract and will participate in the on-call rotas for both specialties (weekend ratio split between specialties). Those with other speciality interests should contact Dr Stephenson for further information

Main duties of the job

The post comprises a total of 10 sessions typically split in to 7 DCC and 3 SPA sessions as per the Amendment to the Consultant Contract (Wales 2003). The sessions will be split between ICM 5.5 sessions and AM 4.5 sessions. 2 core SPA sessions will be split 1:1 among these totals with the third additional SPA session to be discussed and split dependent on additional departmental requirements and job planning review.

The post includes an initial job plan with an induction period, followed by quarterly reviews to assess the need for additional SPA sessions. Additional SPA can be considered through the job planning process if required and would be based upon service needs and/or the successful candidate’s interest in developing a specific area.

The ratio of DCCs to SPAs may vary with the agreement of the post holder and the Health Board in advance or after commencement.

Working for our organisation

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is committed to improve the well-being of our staff. Expert professional support is also available to all Health Board employees through the Aneurin Bevan Employee Well-Being Service, which is a multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving psychosocial well-being through the direct support of individuals and the working environments within which they work. Examples of what is available include access to trained counsellors and Psychological Therapy practitioners, as well as organisational systems intended to support doctors and other staff members following a serious incident. Additionally, comprehensive Occupational Health support is available for all employees.

There is opportunity for mentorship, and to engage in the Health Board CPD programmes, some of which is very useful to the new consultant. Support will be given for new consultant development within SPA time over the first year. It is anticipated that a laptop will be provided with the standard IT provision. There is hot desk office space available in GUH with administrative and secretarial support from both the PACCT team and the critical care secretary. Acute Medicine have shared office in GUH with secretarial support based in the Royal Gwent Hospital.