Senior Clinical Fellow - Assisted Conception Unit

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Assisted Conception Unit for two senior clinical fellow posts.

This post will provide an excellent opportunity for clinical training in all aspects of Reproductive Medicine and Assisted Conception, within a busy unit offering a full range of Assisted Conception techniques including Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis as well as active participation in research. Applicants should have MRCOG part 2, be at SpR level in their Obstetrics and Gynaecology training and be interested in developing a subspecialty interest in Reproductive Medicine and research.

Main duties of the job

We are based at the Assisted Conception Unit, Guys Hospital and will provide broad experience and training in all aspects of reproductive medicine. The successful applicant will play an active role in the management of sub fertile couples attending both the Reproductive Medicine Clinic and Assisted Conception Unit, as part of a dedicated team which aims to give the highest possible standards of care. The Assisted Conception Unit moved into a new purpose built unit in August 2008 on 11th Floor, Guys Hospital. Cross site cover is required as inpatients are admitted to the gynaecology ward at St Thomas’ Hospital.

An induction training programme will be arranged and all procedures are supervised until sufficient proficiency is gained to be able to perform them with safety independently.

The hours of this post are up to 48 hours / week worked flexibly between 08.00 and 18.00 Monday to Friday and Saturday and Sunday mornings on a regular 1 in 4/5 rota. It may be necessary to work later on the day of the main Reproductive Medicine clinic (currently Wednesday) which is followed by a post clinic educational meeting. Flexibility of working hours is required to provide cover for monthly patient information evenings, care of inpatients and outpatient procedures (scans, blood tests, egg collections, embryo transfers) at weekends. The post is non-resident.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Attend the weekly Reproductive Medicine clinic where new referrals and follow up patients requiring initial investigation and treatment other than assisted conception are seen.
• Attend the weekly post Reproductive Medicine clinic meeting.
• Performing Hysterosalpingograms and Hysterosonography.
• Understanding the implications of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and practising according to the Code of Practice produced by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
• Counselling patients who require assisted conception about all aspects of their treatment, risks and complications of treatment, legal and ethical issues relating to their treatment, and research projects ongoing within the unit.
• Being able to undertake the following aspects of a couples assisted conception cycle including scheduling, follicle tracking, egg retrievals, scanning for embryo transfer, intrauterine insemination, follow up counselling, pregnancy scanning, and management of pregnancy/treatment related complications such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Being available to cover the unit as back up for nurses scanning sessions. The technique used for sperm retrievals will be taught but these occur infrequently and expertise may not be obtained after 1 year. Embryo transfers are taught to one trainee at a time as the technique is highly operator dependent and can influence pregnancy rates. Proficiency at embryo transfer would not normally be obtained until the second year of training in Assisted Conception.
• Taking part in non-resident on call rota for Assisted Conception Unit by carrying the emergency bleep for patients, covering inpatients on the gynaecology ward at St Thomas’ Hospital and being available to do scans for embryo transfers and occasional egg collections at weekends.
• Managing any subfertility / Assisted Conception Unit patients admitted to the gynaecology ward, St Thomas’ hospital.
• Presenting at the monthly/twice monthly Patient Information Evenings.
• Attending weekly IVF clinical meeting and other planning/research/audit meetings held weekly
• Initiation and taking part in and recruiting patients for research projects within the unit.
• Contributing to regular audit meetings within the unit and initiating an audit project while in post
• Active involvement in a research project
• Teaching Kings College /Guys and St Thomas’ Trust undergraduates and postgraduates, giving talks at other meetings e.g. patient support groups, GP meetings.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.