Trust Grade - Intensive Care Medicine

Job overview

THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Intensive Care in Cornwall is provided at the Truro site in a purpose-built Unit that was fully refurbished in 2011. It provides critical care services for a catchment population of around 480,000. 9 of the 19 available bed spaces are cubicles. Current staffing is for 15 - 17 patients of combined level 3 and level 2 dependency.  The Unit is located adjacent to the trauma and emergency theatres and immediately above the Emergency department.

Review of ward-based patients with increased dependency care is delivered by nurse led critical care outreach. Other high care areas on site are a separate 3 bed paediatric high dependency unit on the children’s ward, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and a 10 bed Coronary Care Unit.

Consultant Medical staff

Sixteen consultants specialise in Intensive Care Medicine: Drs Thys DeBeer, Will English, Mike Spivey, Adam Garland, Dave Ashton-Cleary, Mat Holland, Dave Connor, Jennie Stephens, Dave Cain, Barney Scrace (Faculty Tutor), Ruth Creamer, Richard Hunt, Sarah Jarvis, Fraser Gould, Alex Coombes and Helen Jones.   Many of the ICU consultants are APLS or ATLS instructors.  Six consultants are accredited trainers in critical care echocardiography and three are accredited trainers in critical care lung ultrasound. Previous trainees have completed their FICE accreditation whilst in post. Many are actively involved in clinical research and medical education.

Main duties of the job

The critical care unit at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS trust has approval for all stages of training in intensive care medicine. The post holder will initially participate in a rolling twelve week full-shift rota comprising a rotating programme of short days, long days and nightshifts. With the implementation of a middle grade tier for critical care it is anticipated that those appointed to a permanent post will switch to a new rota schedule more suited to longer term placements.

Those successful in application for the above post will be supported in gaining skills and accreditations pertinent to their role in critical care including:

• Airway skills and management – (4 month block in Anaesthesia to gain IAC sign off)
• Echocardiography and USS training
• Support towards possible CESR equivalence in Intensive Care Medicine

During the day on the unit you will be supervised by two consultants and work in a medical team usually comprising a senior trainee in intensive care medicine and a minimum of one other CT or ST Intensive Care trainee and one foundation doctor.  At night, you will be supported by the critical care consultant, the resident senior anaesthetic trainee and a critical care foundation trainee.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Trainee medical staff

The intensive care unit has educational approval from the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine for training at all levels, including advanced training.  The Advanced level trainee in Intensive Care Medicine undertakes a full time six month attachment. Twelve other core or specialty trainees are attached to ICU and provide day-time and night-time cover to the unit in a dedicated full-shift.

Training assessment and appraisal

A framework syllabus is based on the Competency Based Training in Intensive Care Medicine documents from the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine.  Unit induction and initial appraisal meeting will occur at the start of the post with the latter allowing individual learning needs to be identified.  Further appraisals and assessments occur at 3 monthly intervals in accordance with FICM recommendations and appropriate paperwork is then completed and forwarded to the Regional Advisor in Intensive Care Medicine where appropriate. At the end of the module, trainees complete an evaluation form indicating the adequacy of their experience and any deficiencies needing attention in future.

Procedures

Cardiac output monitoring (Pulse contour analysis, Pulmonary artery catheterisation and oesophageal Doppler monitoring), continuous renal replacement and intravascular cooling are all available and employed locally. There is considerable local expertise in critical care lung ultrasound and trans-thoracic echocardiography. Percutaneous tracheostomy, non-invasive ventilation and fibreoptic bronchoscopy are frequently performed.  Intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation is available with the hospital delivering a 24/7 PCI service.

PLEASE NOTE: To view the full Job Description and Person Specification, please click view the supporting document on the right hand side

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• Identity Checks Professional registration and qualification checks
• Employment history and reference checks
• Work health assessments
• Criminal record check standards
• Right to work checks

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