ST3+ Trust Doctor in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Job overview

The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Imperial was formed as a result of the merger between the departments at St Mary’s and Hammersmith Hospitals in 2010. The recognised areas of expertise in those departments has been retained and we offer all aspects of cardiac and thoracic surgery except for cardiopulmonary transplantation. There is specific expertise in complex aortic surgery, minimally- invasive surgery and mitral valve repair.

In thoracic surgery, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (via multi-, bi-, or uniport) is routine for anatomical and lesser lung resection as well as in surgery for pleural and mediastinal pathology. Most  lung resections are performed using VATS following recent investment to update the equipment required for those procedures. The Robotic programme is also ready to launch in June 2026 with the purchase of an up-to-date Da Vinci system for Robotic assisted thoracoscopic procedures (RATS) at Hammersmith Hospital once a week. The purchase of the iON Robotic Bronchoscope at St.Mary between the Respiratory Medicine and Thoracic Surgery departments will allow thoracic surgeons to utilize the service once a week for diagnosis, localization and treatment of small lung lesions.

Main duties of the job

• Pre-operative assessment and preparation of patients to undergo thoracic surgery, in outpatients, for urgent referrals (including emergency trauma cover at St Mary’s site) and the specific cardiothoracic pre-assessment clinics
• Capacity to be a competent operating surgeon with direct or indirect supervision and also assisting the consultants in the operating theatres as required and providing training/supervision to more junior staff and Surgical Care Practitioners, as appropriate
• Continuing responsibilities for post-operative critical care of the patients undergoing cardiac and thoracic surgery and subsequent Level 0/1 care on the wards
• Post-operative follow-up of patients in the outpatient, chest drain or would clinics, working with where indicated
• Partaking in the middle-grade on-call rota
• The accurate and timely recording of clinical data, both written & electronic, as outlined in the Principles of Good Medical Practice described by the GMC, participation in clinical audit and familiarity with Trust IT and information systems
• Communicating effectively with both junior and senior medical colleagues, nursing staff (including Clinical Nurse Specialists for Lung and Cardiothoracic ANPs for ward care), HCSs/AHPs and other hospital staff. Particularly good communication skills with patients, their relatives and carers.

There will be opportunities to make presentations and to be involved in teaching

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties and responsibilities:These consist primarily, but not exclusively of:

• Pre-operative assessment and preparation of patients to undergo thoracic surgery, in outpatients, for urgent referrals (including emergency trauma cover at St Mary’s site) and the specific cardiothoracic pre-assessment clinics.
• Capacity to be a competent independent operating surgeon without direct supervision and also assisting the consultants in the operating theatres as required and providing training / supervision to more junior staff and Surgical Care Practitioners, as appropriate.
• Continuing responsibilities for post-operative critical care of the patients undergoing cardiac and thoracic surgery and subsequent Level 0/1 care on the wards.
• Post-operative follow-up of patients in the outpatient, chest drain or would clinics, working with where indicated.
• Partaking in the middle-grade on-call rota
• The accurate, careful and timely recording of clinical data, both written and electronic, as outlined in the Principles of Good Medical Practice described by the GMC, participation in clinical audit and familiarity with Trust and Directorate IT and information systems.
• Communicating effectively with both junior and senior medical colleagues, nursing staff (including Clinical Nurse Specialists for Lung and Cardiothoracic ANPs for ward care), HCSs/AHPs and other hospital staff. Particularly good communication skills with patients, their relatives and carers. There will be opportunities to make presentations and to be involved in teaching.