Specialty Doctor in Plastic Surgery

Job overview

This role involves working within team delivering tertiary-level surgical care to Plastic surgery cancer patients.  It requires a dedicated individual interested in Plastic Surgery and who will be immersed in complex surgery, and all this entails under direct Consultant supervision. Pivotal to the role would be good communication skills to discuss in detail diagnosis, complex surgical issues, and subsequent managements.  Strong background in general gynaecology required to provide good understanding of patient journey prior to cancer diagnosis and support patient throughout. The fellow must work well in a team and across other surgical and non-surgical specialities at The Christie.  Surgical training will be tailored according to the individual’s ability.

Main duties of the job

Active participation in weekly Specialist Multi-disciplinary team meetings to triage patients accordingly for local or specialist surgery.  Consultation of new and follow up patients in clinics supervised by Consultant and supported by Clinical Nurse Specialist will occur regularly.  Identification and subsequent management of complex pre-operative issues will be encountered.  Daily teaching ward rounds/ pre-operative assessments with fixed theatre sessions will be expected.  Surgical training will be tailored according to the individual fellow’s ability but wide range of surgical exposure available. There will be opportunity to provide emergency services which covers all the surgical specialities in the directorate (gynaecology, colorectal, urology & plastics), if the SAS doctor wishes. Research, audit and involvement in clinical governance within the role is encouraged and will be accommodated within weekly timetable.  The role involves teaching and support to junior doctors, clinical fellows in Plastic surgery and other surgical specialities (colorectal, urology, gynaecology), medical students and Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Surgical First Assistants.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Contribute to a comprehensive Plastic and Reconstructive Service – including management of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, microsurgery, perineal reconstruction and joint operating with other surgical specialties.

The role will be responsible for:

To help in delivering a high-quality Tertiary Referral Skin Cancer Service and Breast reconstruction.

To independently run follow-up clinics and local anaesthetic theatre lists for skin cancer cases.

Be a part of the Team for microsurgical cases.

Pre-operative preparation and post operative care for patients.

Active participation in regular audit, SMDT and Research meetings.

To be committed to maintaining a high quality of service to patients, with particular regard to high levels of patient safety, by continual development of practise in the light of research evidence and by audit based against relevant standards.  The post holder will be required to be familiar with:

- ‘Implementation of Trust Risk Management strategy and understand implications of same within area of work’

- ‘Compliance with Blood Transfusion policy to ensure a safe service is provided to patients’

- Be aware of, and comply with, all Trust infection prevention and control policies, to include hand hygiene, personal hygiene, environmental and food hygiene.  To undertake annual training upgrades in infection prevention and control.

The post holder will have annual appraisal and be responsible to the Clinical Lead Consultant Supervisor/mentor for Clinical Governance.

Prepare for and undertake the protective interventions he/she is responsible for in a manner that is consistent with evidence based practice and maintaining patient safety.

The post holder will be expected to adhere to the Trust Mandatory Training Policy.

DUTIES AnD RESPONSIBILITIES

The medical establishment provides 6 Consultants, 2 Specialty Doctors 2 Resident doctors, 2 locally employed senior clinical fellows and 1 Junior clinical fellow.

The appointee will be based at The Christie and will provide senior input to Consultants who have access to surgical beds on Ward 10 which are allocated according to need.  There is a surgical day case unit with facilities for preoperative assessment. The Anaesthetic service is provided by the Department of Anaesthesia at The Christie by the Clinical Director.  All Consultant Surgeons and Anaesthetists with sessional commitments to the Christie Hospital are members of the Directorate of Surgery and Anaesthetics in the division of Cancer Centre Services.

The department of plastic surgery at The Christie has effectively two separate roles; one is in the management of skin and soft tissue tumours that need removal and secondly, the team provides a reconstructive service for the group and for patients requiring reconstruction following breast, colorectal, gynaecological and urological surgery. The team also integrates with the nationally funded NF1 and NF2 services.

The successful candidate would also gain considerable experience and training in microsurgery There is a weekly plastic surgery clinical meeting, a regular audit programme and a teaching and education programme that the appointee would be actively involved in.