Senior Clinical Fellow in Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia

Job overview

Clinical Fellow in Adult Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia

Develop advanced cardiothoracic skills at Royal Brompton Hospital

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Department of Anaesthesia at Royal Brompton Hospital, part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Royal Brompton is an internationally renowned specialist heart and lung hospital with a long-standing reputation for clinical excellence, innovation, research and education. The hospital manages patients with some of the most complex cardiothoracic conditions referred from across the UK and internationally.

This fellowship offers high-quality clinical experience, structured education programme, simulation training and individualised career development within a supportive, consultant-led department using state-of-the-art facilities.

Applications are warmly welcomed from UK trainees and international fellows who wish to consolidate or advance their experience in cardiothoracic anaesthesia.

Job overview

This post would suit a senior anaesthetic trainee in possession of FRCA (or equivalent) or experienced anaesthetic trainee with a post graduate anaesthesia qualification looking to gain further experience and complete higher and advanced training in cardiothoracic anaesthesia. Anaesthetic trainees pursuing the CESR pathway and international fellows seeking specialist training in a leading UK cardiothoracic centre are welcomed to apply, subject to eligibility for GMC registration and relevant employment and immigration requirements.

The successful candidate will participate in the provision of all aspects of Anaesthesia for adults, undergoing a wide variety of cardiology, cardiac and thoracic surgical procedures.

Fellows will gain experience across abroad and complex adult caseload, including cardiac, thoracic surgery, aorto-vascular, adult congenital heart disease, structural heart interventions, TAVI, TEER, electrophysiology, robotic navigational bronchoscopy, minimally invasive surgery, robotic cardiac and thoracic procedures. Royal Brompton is also an accredited Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery (ERACS) centre.

The exact case mix will depend upon the post holder’s prior experience and career aims and clinical exposure will be tailored, where possible, to the fellow’s learning needs. The trainee will work with appropriate consultant supervision and will have clearly identified educational goals.

The department offers a structured, consultant-led teaching programme complemented by practical simulation-based education. Current and planned opportunities include transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE), regional anaesthesia and chest-wall blocks for cardiothoracic surgery, and airway simulation for thoracics. The programme has received excellent participant feedback and provides practical, clinically relevant training in advanced cardiothoracic anaesthesia.

The successful candidate will receive supervised TOE experience and support in working towards recognised TOE accreditation. Fellows will also have opportunities to participate in audit, quality improvement, research and teaching, while developing portfolio evidence relevant to UK higher or advanced cardiothoracic training and, where appropriate, CESR Pathway.

This post may close early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Main duties of the job

The department provides anaesthetic services on a daily basis for each of the six operating theatres, 4 catheter laboratories and the CT scanning suite.

A designated Consultant covers all theatre lists. Trainees are not expected to undertake cases alone without the prior agreement of the educational supervisor or nominated deputy.

Occasionally lists are covered by the Clinical Fellows or SpR's without the immediate presence of a consultant. The trainee in question must ensure that they are aware:

• Which Consultant is covering them should difficulties arise
• What their documented training objectives are for that list

The Recovery Unit is closed from 20.00 hours on Friday evening until Monday morning.

Lists are allocated to trainees the previous week. Details of each list are available at theatre reception on the previous afternoon and are arranged by the Theatre Scheduler. Pre-operative assessment of the following day’s patients is the responsibility of the trainee scheduled to the respective list. Where this is not possible, for example due to heavy theatre commitments or if trainees are not in the Hospital, then the on-call Registrar will arrange to see the patient. Anaesthetic assessment forms are kept on the wards.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This post would suit a senior anaesthetic trainee in possession of FRCA (or equivalent post graduate qualification) or experienced anaesthetic trainee with a post graduate anaesthesia qualification looking to gain further experience and complete training in cardiothoracic anaesthesia for the CESR process or international fellows seeking specialist training in a leading UK cardiothoracic centre.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates who wish to develop their TOE knowledge and skills and work towards accreditation during the fellowship.

The successful candidates will participate in the provision of all aspects of Anaesthesia in adults undergoing a wide variety of cardiology, cardiac and thoracic surgical procedures. The exact case mix will depend upon the post holder’s prior experience and career aims. There is a structured consultant delivered teaching programme along with simulation. Experienced clinical fellows will have regular sessions on our ongoing programme for TAVI’s and other minimally invasive procedures.

This post is to start as soon as possible for fixed terms of 6 months, with the possibility of extension up to 12 months, subject to service requirements, satisfactory progress and mutual agreement. This fellowship may also support applicants seeking clinical experience and portfolio evidence relevant to the CESR pathway. International applicants are encouraged to apply. Any visa sponsorship and relocation support available through Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust should be clearly stated within the applicant information.

Informal enquiries and pre-application discussions are welcomed. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the department to discuss their experience, learning goals and the opportunities available within the fellowship.

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.