Specialty Doctor (SAS) in Anaesthetics in London

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Specialty Doctor in Anaesthetics to join our forward-thinking, ACSA-accredited department. This post is for a full-time Specialty Doctor in Anaesthetics based at University Hospital Lewisham, London. This hospital in partnership with University Hospital Lewisham forms Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust. This post is primarily based at the Lewisham Hospital site; however, duties may include sessions and shifts at other sites within the Trust.

We are seeking a motivated and committed SAS Obstetric Anaesthetist to join our supportive and forward-thinking department. The successful candidate will provide high-quality, patient-centred anaesthetic care for elective and emergency obstetric services, working collaboratively with anaesthetic, obstetric and midwifery colleagues. There are regular opportunities to support care for high-risk obstetric patients through our weekly multidisciplinary team meetings and Maternal Medical Network, to plan care in our antenatal clinic and lead reflections in a dedicated postnatal obstetric anaesthesia clinic. In addition to clinical duties, the appointee will be expected to lead on quality improvement initiatives, clinical governance, audit and service development, particularly the development and evaluation of our postnatal clinic and targeted initiatives to engage patients from disadvantaged groups.

Main duties of the job

• To provide high quality health care for patients referred to the Anaesthetic Department for diagnosis and treatment.
• To participate in educational and governance meetings and meet CPD requirements; to meet appraisal and revalidation requirements.
• To provide cover for colleagues during periods of annual leave.
• To support the Hospital's Clinical Governance Strategy and to participate in clinical audit.
• To contribute towards the development of protocols within the Trust.
• To participate in departmental meetings and activities.
• To contribute to the development of the service.
• To provide continuing training for Clinical staff.

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to:

• Improve representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development.
• Widen access (anchor institution) and employability.
• Improve the experience of staff with disability.
• Improve the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development.
• Make equalities mainstream.

Job responsibilities

• Provision of elective & emergency anaesthesia.
• Member of on-call team at nights & weekends.
• Pre-operative assessment of patients.
• Anaesthetic support to Intensive Care Unit & Emergency Department.
• Provide general advice to medical colleagues, registrars and other junior grades, nurse specialists, midwives & obstetricians, GPs etc.

Medical Education & Teaching

• Participate and contribute to departmental meetings.
• Provide training where required.

Clinical Audit and Clinical Governance

• Conduct and present regular audits.

Continuing Professional Development

• Participate in continuing professional development at local and national level.
• Implement audit and research findings as appropriate in clinical practice.
• Prepare and participate in an annual appraisal in accordance with Trust policy.
• A willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at local, regional or national levels.

Policy, Planning and Management

• Support the Trust to deliver quality patient care.
• Contribute to the development of clinical and organisational protocols and guidelines.
• Assist in the development of the Annual Service Plan for the Directorate and Division and participate in the strategic planning of the service.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential: MBBS or equivalent, Initial Assessment of Competence in Anaesthesia, Initial Assessment of Competence in Obstetric Anaesthesia, Full GMC Registration with License to Practice, Evidence of achievement of Foundation Competencies in line with GMC Standards/Good Medical Practice.
• Desirable: 1st class honours for BSc, Distinction, merits or equivalent throughout undergraduate medical program, FRCA.

Clinical Experience and Knowledge

• Essential: Minimum 4 years (FTE) postgraduate training in the UK (or equivalent training) of which 2 years training must be Anaesthetics, Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems, Able to prioritise clinical need.

Research and Audit Experience

• Essential: Knowledge & evidence of participation in clinical audit, Demonstrate understanding of the importance of audit and research, Evidence of active participation in audit, Understanding of research principles, Previous experience in research activity, Active audit interest demonstrated by at least one completed clinical audit in the last 12 months.
• Desirable: Evidence of leadership in quality improvement projects, Evidence of relevant academic and research achievement, Publications in peer review journals, Publication of audit results, Willingness to be involved in departmental research.

Teaching & Training Experience

• Essential: Interest in teaching (trainees, undergraduates & allied health professionals), Experience of teaching clinical skills to medical and nursing staff and other disciplines.
• Desirable: Evidence of formal training in teaching and/or Certificate in medical teaching, Simulation training.

Communication Skills

• Essential: Demonstrates good listening, reading, writing and speaking in English language that enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues, as set out in the GMC's Good Medical Practice (2024), Able to build rapport, listen, persuade and negotiate, Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems/make decisions, Capacity to work effectively with others, Ability to work as part of a multi-professional team, Capacity to take in others' perspectives and treat others with understanding, Sees patients as people.

IT skills

• Essential: Ability to use Microsoft office packages or similar, e.g. MS Word, Excel, Teams & PowerPoint, Ability to use patient information systems.

Other Attributes

• Essential: The applicant must demonstrate: The ability to prioritize tasks and information and take appropriate decisions, Initiative and ability to deal with pressure and/or challenge, Self-awareness and insight into the boundaries of their own abilities, An understanding of equality and diversity, Demonstrate Leadership Skills, Active patient rapport, Behave in a manner which establishes proper professional relationships with patients, Awareness of medico-legal implications of work.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.