Job overview
We require an enthusiastic and dynamic Anaesthetic Consultant with a special interest in Regional Anaesthesia and/or Major Surgery to join our Department of Anaesthetics in Theatres and Critical Care Directorate.
Our two hospitals offer a varied scope of practice, with emergency and elective surgery split across the two sites.
The Tunbridge Wells Hospital is the hub for emergency General surgery, Paediatrics, ENT, Lower GI, Bariatric surgery, Gynaecology, Obstetric services and Trauma surgery, while Ophthalmic, Urology, Upper GI, Breast and gynaec-oncology surgery is based at Maidstone Hospital. Fordcombe Hospital offers NHS day surgery procedures and a range of private services which support the Trust financially. There are opportunities to develop personal interests in, amongst other thingss, management, research, governance, perioperative medicine, long-term vascular access and medical education within the new Kent medical school.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will provide a high standard of care to any patient for whom they have clinical responsibility. This will include any patients referred to you and cared for by you personally or by members of your team.
Participate in clinical and other service activities and development to ensure a high standard of patient care across the Trust.
Work in close co-operation with other medical, professional and managerial colleagues, both within and outside the speciality, to provide high-quality health care to the Trust’s patients, and to contribute to future thinking about the Trust’s strategic direction.
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
to hear what our staff say.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
1. Generous annual leave entitlement
2. Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a employer contribution of 23.7% and life assurance benefits
3. Blue Light card eligibility
4. And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To participate fully in and share leadership of the clinical governance of the speciality, covering its Trust-wide activities. To attend clinical governance half-days as detailed in the Trust’s Guide to Job Planning, unless on agreed leave or while attending emergencies.
To participate actively in departmental audits, sharing coordination of audit activities within the department and implementation of change.
To take an active responsibility for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, training and supervision.
To assume responsibility, both personally and corporately, with consultant colleagues, for the management of junior medical staff. You are expected to be involved in their professional development, both clinical and personal, as per guidance from the Deanery.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. MB BS (or equivalent)
6. Registered with GMC
7. On the specialist register, or within 6 months of acquiring CCT
Desirable criteria
8. ALS/APLS/ATLS or NLS provider or instructor
9. Additional complimentary post graduate qualification
10. Additional graduate or intercollated degree
11. Associate fellowship FICM
Training & Experience
Essential criteria
12. Experience and documented competence in any one or more of the following specialist areas •Trauma and orthopaedics •Regional anaesthesia •Major cancer surgery •Perioperative medicine
Desirable criteria
13. Experience in awake block lists, breast blocks, continuous nerve block catheters
14. Regional Anaesthesia qualification
15. POETTS accreditation or further training in Perioperative Medicine
Audit
Essential criteria
16. Understand the principles of audit
17. Evidence of participation and completion of audit projects
Desirable criteria
18. Completed and presented the audit loop in a number of audits
Research
Essential criteria
19. An understanding of general principles, scientific method and interpretation of literature
Desirable criteria
20. Evidence of personal research projects and their presentation
21. Publications in peer-reviewed journals
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
22. Evidence of good communication skills
23. Evidence of leadership
24. Organisational ability
25. Able to take responsibility and cope with stressful situations
26. Able to get on with other members of the multi disciplinary team
Desirable criteria
27. Critical and enquiring approach to knowledge acquisition
28. To have undertaken a postgraduate communication skills course
Other requirements
Essential criteria
29. Basic IT skills skills for the use of email, Microsoft Office, etc
30. Driving Licence
Desirable criteria
31. Intermediate or advanced IT skills
Management
Essential criteria
32. Evidence of organisational ability
Desirable criteria
33. Attended a National Health Service Management Course appropriate to Consultant duties.