Consultant Cardiac Surgeon

This appointment is for the post of Consultant Cardiac Surgeon to join the existing cardiothoracic team, to provide cardiac surgical services to the patient population in the Devon and Cornwall catchment area. This is a full-time position, based within the Cardiothoracic Centre at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, working alongside 5 Cardiac Consultant Surgeons, one Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, eleven Cardiothoracic Consultant Anaesthetists and five Thoracic Consultant Surgeons. There may be the requirement to carry out clinical duties off-site, as the unit covers Devon and Cornwall with peripheral outpatient clinics being held at Torbay, Royal Devon and Exeter and Royal Cornwall Hospitals. Teaching duties may also need to be undertaken off site.

Main duties of the job:

• The full range of cardiac surgery, with the exception of paediatrics and transplantation is carried out.
• The centre has cardiac special interests in major aortic surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery and mitral repair surgery.
• The clinical department and management team actively support service development and technical innovation with the recent instigation of hybrid AF ablation and the continuing success of the expanding TAVI program.
• The unit has adopted an active fast-tracking policy.
• The patients within the Cardiothoracic ICU are managed jointly by the anaesthetists, surgeons and cardiologists.

This team approach has proved extremely successful and has created a cohesive friendly working environment.

About us:

The Cardiothoracic Centre opened in November 1997 and completes approximately 1200 cardiac surgical cases each year, serving all of Devon and Cornwall. Recently there has been amalgamation of the three thoracic surgery units in the Peninsula (Plymouth, Cornwall & Exeter) within the South West Cardiothoracic Centre which now also serves the whole of Devon and Cornwall. The centre is the only cardiothoracic surgical unit within Devon and Cornwall, providing surgical capacity for five referring hospitals. The centre has excellent working relationships and meets regularly with referring physicians.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is associated with the Medical School and the Division/Directorate/ Department has a commitment to and responsibility for a significant part of the clinical undergraduate teaching programme. The post holder will be expected to participate in these activities by mutual agreement with the Clinical Director. Such arrangements will be agreed within the Trust's annual job planning and consultant/staff and associate specialist appraisal process.

There are regular monthly audit meetings which review all cardiothoracic surgical and cardiology activity for the relevant period. There is a monthly CME meeting where audit, departmental business updates and M& M are presented. All clinical duties other than emergencies are put on hold for CME.

Job responsibilities:

• There may be the requirement to carry out clinical duties off-site, as the unit covers Devon and Cornwall with peripheral outpatient clinics being held at Torbay, Royal Devon and Exeter and Royal Cornwall Hospitals.
• Teaching duties may also need to be undertaken off site.
• On call commitment will be 1:7 covering Cardiac surgery.
• Consultant cover for holidays and study leave is internally provided.
• The post holder will be expected to contribute towards the directorates teaching and audit responsibilities.
• Attendance at regular CME and morbidity/mortality meetings is considered essential.

Person Specification:

Education, qualifications and special training:

• Essential: Entry on the GMC Specialist Register (or entry expected with 6 months of the interview date if currently an SpR/StR).
• Desirable: Qualification in teaching.

Particular skills and experience:

• Essential: Ability to offer an expert clinical opinion on a range of both elective and emergency problems in vascular surgery.
• Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients.
• Expertise in vascular surgery and two years' experience in a vascular surgery unit or an equivalent.
• Expertise in carotid, aortic and bypass surgery.
• Endovascular skills.

• Desirable: Renal access experience, Endovascular fellowship.

Research & clinical audit:

• Essential: Ability and enthusiasm in research.
• Commitment to audit of outcomes.
• Research degree (MD or PhD).
• Publications in peer reviewed journals.
• Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical and surgical problems.

• Desirable: Ability to act as PI in research trials.

Teaching:

• Essential: Ability to teach clinical and operative skills effectively and with enthusiasm.
• This particular post requires the applicant to undertake teaching of postgraduate/undergraduate medical students.
• Experience of postgraduate teaching (HEE / Royal college approved courses).

• Desirable: Experience of teaching both undergraduates and postgraduates preferably with a teaching qualification.

Communication & Interpersonal skills:

• Essential: Ability to work as a team, critical approach to work, caring attitude to patients, ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, GPs, nurses and other allied staff, honesty and probity.

• Desirable: Willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at a local and regional level.

Management:

• Essential: Ability to effectively manage a surgical firm and work within a multidisciplinary team.

• Desirable: Experience of audit and management and IT skills.

Practical requirements:

• Essential: An ability to undertake the physical and mental demands of a busy tertiary vascular post and to be flexible in providing on call work.
• Successfully completed an ATLS and CCrISP course.
• To be on the appropriate GMC Specialist Register or eligible for admission within six months of interview.

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