< Back

Primary Duties of the Role

The post comprises 10 Programmed Activities (PAs), with opportunities for additional SPA activity by agreement. The successful candidate will be expected to:

Clinical Duties

• Provide and develop a safe, effective, and efficient anaesthetic service.
• Undertake elective theatre sessions, covering a range of surgical specialities.
• Participate in the consultant on-call rota for out-of-hours responsibilities.
• Ensure high standards of patient care in line with national quality initiatives.
• Provide cover for colleagues’ annual leave and other authorised absences.
• Maintain infection control and health and safety practices in line with national and regional policies.

Teaching & Supervision

• Supervise and manage junior medical staff, ensuring adherence to HR and employment policies.
• Contribute to undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing medical education locally and nationally.
• Participate in the education and teaching of wider clinical staff across the service.

Research & Audit

• Engage in medical audit, clinical governance, and CPD activities.
• Incorporate audit and research findings into clinical practice as appropriate.
• Support innovation and service improvement through evidence-based practice.

Policy & Planning

• Contribute to the development of clinical and organisational protocols.
• Review and update policies to ensure clinical effectiveness.
• Participate in the strategic planning of anaesthetic services at a local and regional level.

Management & Communication

• Actively participate in departmental meetings and service development.
• Represent the department on committees and working groups as required.
• Support the effective handling of patient complaints and feedback.

Record Keeping & Governance

• Ensure accurate patient records in line with Data Protection and Information Governance requirements.
• Comply with Freedom of Information regulations and departmental accountability structures.
• Uphold the principles of equality, fairness, and patient rights in all duties.

Job Plan (10 PAs per week)

• 8.5 PAs Direct Clinical Care (DCC): Including theatre lists, on-call duties, and pre-operative/post-operative care.
• 1.5 PAs Supporting Professional Activities (SPA): Including CPD, audit, appraisal, revalidation, job planning, governance, and education.

Each theatre session is 5 hours, covering pre- and post-operative care. Job plans are subject to annual review and may be adjusted to accommodate specialist interests (e.g., paediatric anaesthesia, obstetric anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia, or day-case anaesthesia).

Consultants are expected to live within a reasonable distance to allow attendance within 30 minutes when on call.

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential):

• Entry on GMC Specialist Register (or within 6 months of CCT at interview) in Anaesthesia.
• FRCA or equivalent.

Desirable:

• Postgraduate degree.

Clinical Experience (Essential):

• Recent, relevant experience across all aspects of anaesthesia.
• Advanced Life Support and EPLS (or equivalent).
• Completed recognised specialist training in the UK.
• Ability to maintain clinical authority within a multi-professional team.

Desirable:

• Subspecialty interest (e.g., high BMI patients, trauma, paediatrics, obstetrics, regional).
• Experience with advanced training modules.

Management & Administrative Skills (Essential):

• Ability to effectively manage clinical workload.
• Knowledge of NHS structure and current policies.
• Involvement in quality improvement projects and guideline development.

Desirable:

• Management course completed.
• Interest in patient safety and service leadership.

Teaching (Essential):

• Experience delivering undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
• Evidence of training in teaching methods.

Desirable:

• Diploma in Medical Education.

Research & Audit (Essential):

• Understanding of evidence-based medicine and clinical audit.
• Ability to appraise research and apply findings to practice.

Desirable:

• Publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Involvement in research projects related to Anaesthesia.