Consultant Anaesthetist in Rhyl

We are seeking motivated consultant anaesthetists who can deliver high‑quality, compassionate anaesthetic care for a range of surgical specialties. Successful candidates will also be expected to provide emergency theatre and obstetric unit anaesthetic cover, as a member of a non‑resident evening and weekend general consultant rota (1 in 12). This is an exciting time for the department, with the new North Wales Elective Orthopaedic Centre due to open at Llandudno Hospital in 2026. An interest in regional anaesthesia, high‑volume low‑complexity (HVLC) work and day‑case arthroplasty would be an advantage. Opportunities exist for clinical sessions across a range of other specialties. The clinical interests and experience of successful candidates will be considered as part of the job‑planning process, aligned with the service requirements of the department; an interest in obstetrics, vascular, pre‑operative assessment and paediatrics would be advantageous.

Main Duties of the Job:

• Clinical activity will mainly involve theatre list cover, which may be as either a solo consultant anaesthetist, or acting as a supervisor, trainer, or mentor to non‑consultant colleagues.
• Clinical sessions may also include providing anaesthesia in non‑theatre settings, attending pre‑operative assessment clinics, clinical case reviews, or MDT meetings.
• The Wales Consultant contract provides a generous 3 weekly sessions of SPA. Two "core" sessions allow the individual to undertake activity required for appraisal and revalidation. The third SPA provides individuals with time to lead on aspects of service delivery and improvement.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) is Wales’s largest health organisation, with a budget of over £2.4 billion and a workforce of over 20,000 staff. BCUHB provides a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute and specialist hospital services for the population of North Wales, across 3 acute hospitals and a network of community hospitals, health centres, clinics, and mental health units. It also co‑ordinates or provides the work of GP practices and NHS services provided by dentists, opticians, and pharmacists across the region. The Health Board is an integrated health system that strives for excellent, compassionate care delivered in partnership with the public sector and other statutory and third sector organisations.

Contact: Please contact Dr Gareth Mula, Clinical Director. Email: Gareth.Mula2@wales.nhs.uk

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: Full GMC Specialist Registration in Anaesthetics or due to obtain CCT within 6 months of interview date. CESR applicants must have GMC Specialist Registration at the point of application. FRCA. Broad based general experience in anaesthesia. Wide training background relevant for the job.
• Desirable Qualifications: Other postgraduate qualifications. Specialist skills or experience. ALS, ATLS, APLS or equivalent.
• Experience: Essential Experience: Broad based general experience in anaesthesia. Wide training background relevant for the job.
• Desirable Experience: Experience at consultant level. Specialist skills or experience. Higher training, experience or specialist interest in vascular, orthopaedics, obstetric or paediatric anaesthesia. Higher training, experience or specialist interest in pre‑operative assessment and prehabilitation. Out‑of‑programme experience in a clinical area relevant to the job. Evidence of taking consultant‑level responsibility.
• Skills and Ability: Essential Skills: Evidence of the ability to work in stressful situations and/or when under pressure. Safe and effective oral communication skills. Excellent command of written and verbal English. Ability to handle difficult interviews with patients or their carers with tact and sensitivity. Basic IT skills.
• Desirable Skills: Advanced IT skills (e.g. App or website design). Able to work flexibly both in time and place.
• Quality Improvement, Audit and Research: Essential Criteria: Evidence of participation in quality improvement or audit projects.
• Desirable Criteria: Evidence of completed audit or quality improvement projects that have changed practice. Critical appraisal course / skills. Evidence of participation in research. Publications in peer‑reviewed journals, e.g. letters, case reports. Posters displayed at scientific meetings. Abstracts presented at scientific meetings. Research‑based publications in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Management and Leadership: Essential Criteria: Evidence of understanding of NHS management practices. A willingness to attend and actively participate in departmental management meetings.
• Desirable Criteria: Management course. Involvement with a management project. Experience of departmental administration. Experience of rostering. Experience of managing a budget in the workplace. Experience of organisational change and service redesign.
• Teaching: Essential Criteria: Experience of teaching trainees. Evidence of a commitment to teaching trainees.
• Desirable Criteria: Evidence of teaching nursing and paramedical staff and medical students. Teaching course. Teaching qualification. Accredited trainer e.g. for ATLS, EDRA. Experience of using simulation in medical education.
• Additional Requirements: Essential Criteria: Open and approachable and willing to give and to receive feedback. A team player that values the individual contributions of a multi‑disciplinary team. Reliable, self‑motivated and punctual. Willingness to involve patients in their management. Aligns own values with those of the Health Board.
• Desirable Criteria: A willingness to work outside normal working hours at short notice in times of need. A willingness to explore new ways of working. Ability to speak Welsh or willingness to learn the Welsh language.