Job overview
Applications are sought for a 10 PA Consultant post in Vascular Surgery (with 1:10 on call commitment) to work across UHSussex at both Royal Sussex, Brighton and spoke hospital. They would join the 11 enthusiastic and committed Vascular Consultants in the department and multi-professional team. The service is supported by a high-quality Vascular Laboratory for non-invasive imaging and Vascular Nurse Specialists. The job would involve working within the Sussex Vascular Network, covering a populations of at least 1.6 million patients. The network consists of the Hub at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, with spokes at Worthing, Chichester, Redhill, Haywards Heath, Eastbourne and Hastings. There is a dedicated Vascular ward at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. Weekly vascular multi-disciplinary meetings are held at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, attended by Vascular Consultants within the network, Radiology colleagues, the Vascular Nurse Specialist, and vascular registrars where patient’s treatment plans are discussed and agreed. This is a PVD and aortic MDT in addition to discussing emergency in-patient admissions, and a separate neurovascular MDT held in conjunction with the stroke team.
Main duties of the job
The appointee will share the responsibilities for providing care to vascular in-patients, manage regular out-patient clinics, perform regular ward rounds, take part in the Vascular Network on-call rota and operate. The details of the activities are given in the job plan and timetable below. The clinical duties of the post include the following: · Regular attendance of MDM and active participation in the discussions. · Regular out-patient clinics across both sites and assessing vascular patients across the breadth of vascular surgery. · Regular theatre sessions to operate on vascular patients. · Participate in the on call rota, currently 1 in 10. · Regular day case list. · Active participation and delivery in the department research projects and is willing to supervise any research fellows in line with the research and innovation strategy trusts. The appointee should have good communication skills and willing to take on additional responsibilities that might arise e.g. (attending meetings to plan further development of the department & service delivery). The appointee should also be willing to help further develop the department workforce by actively participating in the supervision of junior doctors and VNS. The appointee is also encouraged to actively participate in improving patient care delivery.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating.
Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in.
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
In June 2011 an external review of vascular services was undertaken in Sussex by members of the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland with the working report recommendations made available in August 2011. The recommended and agreed model of care for the Sussex Vascular Network has been developed with the co-operation of the spokes, taking into consideration their organisational needs and is as follows: The network will consist of the Hub, at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, with spokes in Worthing, Chichester, Redhill, Haywards Heath, Eastbourne and Hastings The population covered by the Sussex Vascular Network is a minimum of 1.6 million, and each spoke hospital is a busy District General Hospital with a considerable population to service · All arterial interventions (open and endovascular), vascular interventional radiology and all emergency admissions will be managed at the Sussex Vascular Centre in Brighton. · With the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital as part of the same trust, older children with vascular trauma can be dealt within the hub by the on-call vascular team. Infants are usually referred to specialist paediatric centres in London (eg Great Ormond Street Hospital) · In Worthing, Hastings and Redhill there will be inpatient provision for minor amputations, diabetic foot complications, and transfers back from Brighton for convalescence following arterial interventions. · In all the spokes - There will be day case vascular surgery including the treatment of varicose veins, minor amputations and debridement. · There will be outpatient provision at all sites This post will be expected to work at Spoke hospital and Brighton. Departmental Facilities and Workload The RSCH Unit provides comprehensive 1:10 on call (consultant of the week) rota. The total activity for the hub will be approximately 600 index cases per year. Of the 8 Consultants and 2 Speciality Doctors currently in post, 8 undertake work within both the hub and at least one spoke unit. 1 Consultant has sessions at Brighton & Sussex Medical School. Of the current Consultant establishment areas of interest are as follows: · EVAR · FEVAR / BEVAR · Renal Access Surgery · DM Foot · CEA · Open AAA · ETS · PAD – Open and Endovascular · Cervical rib · Deep venous disease · Hybrid procedures There is a buddy system in place to support and aid cover, which will continue and evolve as new appointees join the service. For EVAR and FEVAR, hybrid and complex vascular work dual consultant operating is involved. The Consultant on call system will be on a 1:10 basis and works as follows: Monday AM – Friday AM; hand over on Friday AM; home. No other commitments whilst on call Friday AM – Monday AM; handover at MDM; home. No other commitments All elective spoke/hub duties are cancelled during periods on call and these will not clash with the main inpatient hub operating lists. Waiting lists are shared to ensure prompt treatment based on patient need. 24/7 vascular on-call rota supported by dedicated Registrars. There are 10 dedicated vascular Registrars working on a rota, and 4 F1s, 2 F2s and a CT1 within the hub. There is a Reg of the Week system for daytime cover during the week, and at the weekend, with a night rota for Reg cover. Local middle grade support for the spokes will be provided by the spoke Trusts. There is a network interventional radiology rota including 8 Consultants. There is a dedicated vascular ward with 30 beds, rising to 37 on full implementation of the Sussex vascular network model. The Service is supported by a high quality Vascular Laboratory for non-invasive imaging. The whole range of vascular and endovascular activities are undertaken by the Unit, including comprehensive service for EVAR. The hybrid theatre is available Tuesday afternoon, all day Wednesday and Thursday morning. Additional times will be available on negotiation. There will be equal access in a flexible system to the hybrid theatre for all Consultants, which will be allowed and encouraged to evolve. There is also a vascular C arm and table available for another theatre. There are 1-2 NCEPOD theatres available 24/7. Renal access work is provided by the Unit to high standard and there will be the opportunity for the appointee to participate in this activity. There will be a teaching commitment to undergraduates from The Brighton & Sussex Medical Schools and there will be expectation for research activities, according to the appointee’s interests. Weekly vascular multi-disciplinary meetings are held at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, attended by Vascular Consultants within the network, Radiology colleagues, the Vascular Nurse Specialist, and vascular registrars where patient’s treatment plans are discussed and agreed. This is a PAD and Aortic MDT in addition to discussing emergency in-patient admissions, and a separate neurovascular MDT held in conjunction with the stroke team. There are video conferencing facilities available to enable remote presence at the meetings. The network includes 8 Vascular Nurse Specialists, with two in each spoke hospital, and are an integral element of the Sussex Vascular Network. The Vascular Nurse Specialist at the Royal Sussex County Hospital has an essential role in the delivery of modern evidence based vascular services, including providing ward-based assessments of vascular disease, wound care and diabetic foot problems, outpatient provision of nurse run clinics for varicose veins and intermittent claudication with exercise and lifestyle classes, and smoking cessation. In addition they provide valuable linking services between medical specialities and the nursing staff, within and across Trusts. The VNS also liaises with the local outpatient departments arranging urgent appointments for patients seen in A and E at the Hub, assist with movement of patients into the Hub and with onward care to their local hospital. Main duties and responsibilities The appointee will share the responsibilities for providing care to vascular in-patients, manage regular out-patient clinics, perform regular ward rounds, take part in the Vascular Network on-call rota and operate. The details of the activities are given in the job plan and timetable below. The clinical duties of the post include the following: Regular attendance of MDM and active participation in the discussions. Regular out-patient clinics across both sites and assessing vascular patients across the breadth of vascular surgery. Regular theatre sessions to operate on vascular patients. Participate in the on call rota, currently 1 in 10. Regular day case list. Active participation and delivery in the department research projects and is willing to supervise any research fellows in line with the research and innovation strategy trusts. The appointee should have good communication skills and willing to take on additional responsibilities that might arise e.g. (attending meetings to plan further development of the department & service delivery). The appointee should also be willing to help further develop the department workforce by actively participating in the supervision of junior doctors and VNS. The appointee is also encouraged to actively participate in improving patient care delivery. The post holder accepts that they will also perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the appropriate consultant, in consultation, where practicable, with their colleagues, both senior and junior. While it has been agreed between the professions that they will perform such duties, the Secretary of State stresses that additional commitments arising under this sub-section are exceptions and you should not be required to undertake work of this kind for prolonged periods or on a regular basis. On call commitment: 1:10 Monday morning to Friday morning 1:10 Friday morning to Monday morning Category A Category A: this applies where the consultant is typically required to return immediately to site when called or has to undertake interventions with a similar level of complexity to those that would normally be carried out on site, such as telemedicine or complex telephone consultations; Category B: this applies where the consultant can typically respond by giving telephone advice and/or by returning to work later. The post holder accepts that they will also perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the appropriate consultant, in consultation, where practicable, with their colleagues, both senior and junior. While it has been agreed between the professions that they will perform such duties, the Secretary of State stresses that additional commitments arising under this sub-section are exceptions and you should not be required to undertake work of this kind for prolonged periods or on a regular basis. See full job description for more information. Potential Interview Date June 2026
Person specification
Experience/ Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Basic medical degree
2. FRC/MRC Vascular - e.g. FRCS, MRCP, etc. or its recognised equivalent.
3. Full and specialist registration (with a licence to practise) with the GMC or be eligible for registration within six months of the interview. • If you trained in the UK, you must also have a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Vascular or be within six months of receiving it by the interview date. • If you trained outside the UK, you must provide evidence that your qualifications are equivalent to the UK CCT. (Equivalence must be confirmed by GMC by date of AAC)
Desirable criteria
4. Higher Degree
Clinical Skills and Experience
Essential criteria
5. Experience in complex endovascular aortic / complex lower limb and deep
6. Experience in trauma surgery
7. Experience in complex open aortic surgery
8. Definitive surgical trauma skills (DSTS)
Desirable criteria
9. Experience in endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy
10. Experience in Thoracic outlet syndrome
Knowledge
Desirable criteria
11. •Breadth of experience in and outside specialty
Teaching Skills
Essential criteria
12. Evidence of an interest and commitment to teaching
Desirable criteria
13. Recognised teaching qualification
Academic and Research
Essential criteria
14. Evidence of participation in audit
Desirable criteria
15. Research experience
16. Publications
17. Prizes and honours
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
18. Evidence of:- Good communication skills both oral and written
Organisation and Planning
Essential criteria
19. Experience and ability to work in multi-professional teams.
20. Understanding of: NHS / Clinical governance / Resource constraints
Desirable criteria
21. Evidence of managerial skills: Achievements / Course attended
Career Progression
Essential criteria
22. Appropriate progression of career to date
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
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Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications