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An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Consultant Anaesthetist with an interest in Cardiac Anaesthesia and Cardiac Intensive Care to join a major cardiothoracic service in Wales. This is a chance to join a well-established subspecialist team of 7 consultants delivering cardiothoracic anaesthesia and cardiothoracic critical care at a high-volume regional surgical centre. The service currently supports around 700 cardiac surgical procedures per year, covering a broad case mix including coronary revascularisation, valve replacement/repair, major aortic surgery and minimally invasive procedures such as TAVI.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide elective and emergency anaesthesia for cardiothoracic surgery and minimally invasive cardiac procedures.
• Deliver anaesthetic support for a case mix including coronary revascularisation, valve surgery, major aortic surgery and TAVI.
• Contribute to care within the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CICU) and wider perioperative cardiothoracic service.
• Participate in the 1:8 cardiac on-call rota, including emergency cardiothoracic operations, urgent cardiac revascularisation and CICU support.
• Work collaboratively with consultant colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, efficient and high-quality service delivery.
• Contribute to clinical governance, audit, risk management and service improvement.
• Support undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, training and education.
• Participate in appraisal, CPD, revalidation and annual job planning in line with GMC and Royal College requirements.
• Engage in research and academic activity where appropriate within a university-linked department.

About the Service

The successful candidate will join a large anaesthetic department of 82 consultants, with this post sitting within the cardiothoracic anaesthesia and cardiothoracic critical care team. The service includes a newly refurbished 12-bed Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit, an 8-bed High Dependency Unit, and a multidisciplinary Post Anaesthetic Care Unit supporting high-risk elective surgical pathways. Care is delivered in a collaborative model where surgeons and anaesthetists jointly manage cardiothoracic intensive care patients, with strong MDT input.

The role is built around a 10-session job plan with a 7:3 DCC: SPA split, and the provisional timetable includes a mix of cardiothoracic intensive care, cardiac/thoracic theatre work, cath lab activity, pre-assessment and SPA time. There is also flexibility within the wider department to support subspecialist interests and service needs through mutually agreed sessions.

Person Specification

Requirements

Essential

• Full GMC registration and licence to practise
• CCT in Anaesthesia (or expected within 6 months of interview) or inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register within the same timeframe
• Advanced Training Module in Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia as part of CCT, or equivalent cardiothoracic anaesthesia experience and expertise
• Testamur status in Perioperative Transoesophageal Echocardiography (PTE) with BSE, EACVI, NBE or equivalent
• Evidence of the ability to develop effective working relationships across multidisciplinary teams
• Evidence of service improvement work with management and clinical colleagues
• Evidence of teaching and training undergraduate and/or postgraduate clinical staff
• Evidence of audit activity from initiation through completion
• Strong leadership, teamworking and communication skills
• Understanding of information systems and technology
• Clinical competence in general anaesthesia, obstetric anaesthesia and emergency anaesthesia
• Ability to work flexibly, undertake on-call duties and contribute to ongoing service development and improvement

Desirable

• Certification in Perioperative Transoesophageal Echocardiography
• Fellow of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM) or equivalent experience/expertise in intensive care medicine
• Further relevant degree/diploma
• Teaching qualification or higher qualification in medical education
• Experience in the development and commissioning of anaesthetic services
• Evidence of research in anaesthesia
• Ability to take a lead role in service development

What's on Offer

• Opportunity to join a high-volume cardiothoracic anaesthesia and intensive care service
• Work within a subspecialist consultant team supporting cardiac surgery, thoracic development and critical care
• Exposure to a broad and advanced cardiac case mix, including TAVI and major aortic surgery
• Participation in a newly refurbished cardiothoracic critical care environment
• Strong links to teaching, research and university partnerships
• A structured consultant post with 10 sessions, SPA time, annual job planning, mentoring and development support
• The chance to contribute to the continued growth of a major cardiothoracic service in Wales