Adult Neurosurgery Spinal Fellowship (Leeds)

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest trusts in the UK, providing comprehensive secondary services to Leeds and tertiary services to West and North Yorkshire. The General Infirmary at Leeds is centrally located, adjacent to Leeds University, with which it maintains strong links.

About the Department

The Departments of Neurosurgery and the Integrated Spinal Service offer a comprehensive neurosurgical and spinal surgery service to 2.5 million people in West and North Yorkshire. Located within the Jubilee Wing of the General Infirmary at Leeds, the departments include:

• 68 adult beds across two dedicated wards
• A 7-bed Neuro-intensive Care Unit
• A 7-bed High Dependency Unit

There are four adult operating theatres, including one dedicated to emergency surgery available 24/7. Separate facilities are available for Paediatric Neurosurgery. The spinal service covers all aspects of spinal surgery, staffed by four Neurosurgical and eight Spinal Orthopaedic Consultants. The department collaborates closely with other neuroscience specialties on site, including Neuroradiology, Neurology, Neuroanaesthesiology, and Neurophysiology.

The neuro-pathology service for Yorkshire is based at St James\’s Hospital, providing histological and post-mortem services, including intra-operative histopathology. The Neuro Radiology Department at Leeds General Infirmary comprises seven consultants, three of whom provide Endovascular services. The hospital is a Level 1 trauma unit (MTC status) with strong links to other surgical specialties such as trauma, maxillofacial, plastics, cardiothoracic, and ENT surgery.

The department handles approximately 3,000 inpatients and 2,000 operative cases annually. The Centre for Neurosciences in Leeds offers world-class adult Neurosurgical and Orthopaedic spinal care, led by consultants with subspecialty expertise. The spinal services are strongly linked with Neurology, Neuroradiology, Neuropathology, and Leeds University.

All theatres are equipped with advanced technology including BrainLAB neuronavigation, CUSA, Sonopet, Zeiss microscopes (including navigated), X-ray support, intra-operative frozen section, and ultrasound. Patients are discussed weekly in MDT meetings adhering to BASS standards, and all are entered into the National Spinal Database. The Neurosurgical Spine team collaborates with Spinal Orthopaedic consultants and runs a combined on-call rota. A dedicated weekly Cervical Spine MDT clinic is also held.

The department supports three fellowship posts in spinal surgery, including the Stryker Industry Fellowship and the National Spinal Fellowship. The new fellowship is designed for an experienced trainee with a Neurosurgical background, aiming to gain extensive experience in complex spinal surgery, including craniocervical and intramedullary microsurgery.

Fellows are expected to develop skills in the assessment, investigation, and operative management of complex spinal pathologies, including degenerative, neoplastic, infectious, and traumatic disorders. The fellowship includes training in techniques such as cranio-cervical junction and sub-axial spine reconstruction, microsurgical techniques, minimally invasive procedures, and spinal fusion.

Participation in weekly MDTs with Neurosurgeons, Spinal Orthopaedic surgeons, radiologists, and nurses is expected. The fellow will be encouraged to engage in research and attend national and international meetings. They will participate in the neurosurgical registrar on-call rota, ensuring continuity of care and maintaining emergency neurosurgical skills. The fellowship also involves sharing responsibility for neurosurgical patients outside strict rota commitments.

Strong links exist with Leeds University and local brain tumour charities, supported by a dedicated Spinal Research Nurse.

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