Overview
The closing date is 20 October 2025
We have an excellent opportunity for a Consultant Anaesthetist to join our leading orthopaedic centre of excellence. We are looking for a consultant who has the drive to develop the service to world class status.
Although this is a single surgical speciality hospital, the anaesthesia delivered is interesting, challenging and varied. There is ample opportunity to perform techniques such as ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia, local anaesthetic catheter techniques, neuraxial blockade and fibre optic and video-assisted intubation. Invasive monitoring is regularly employed for revision hip and major spinal surgery.
Set in idyllic surroundings, with beautiful places to live within commuting distance, the job also offers fantastic flexibility and work-life balance. The Trust has excellent transport links, 30 minutes by road from Chester and Shrewsbury. Manchester and Liverpool airports are about an hour by road, and Birmingham airport 90 minutes. The M54 motorway provides quick access to the national motorway network and there are reasonable rail links from Gobowen via Shrewsbury or Chester.
Main duties of the job
This full time post comprise 8.5 PA for direct clinical care with 1.5 supporting professional activities (SPA) with the opportunity to progress to 2.5 for specific activities which are agreed upon between the consultant and their clinical manager.
We encourage all potential candidates to come to the site for an informal visit.
The On-Call commitment for the post is low frequency, anticipated to be 1:15/1:16.
About us
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic NHS Trust (RJAH) is one of the leading orthopaedic hospitals in the country, with some of the highest levels of staff and patient satisfaction, as well as a strong reputation for research and innovation.
We have a range of fantastic staff benefits on offer to everyone who joins RJAH and you'll have access to outstanding professional development opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities - including our recently-opened £6 million Headley Court Veterans' Orthopaedic Centre (the first unit of its kind in the UK). RJAH has strong links with a range of universities including Staffordshire, Keele, Glyndwr, Chester and Birmingham. The hospital is located on a site outside Oswestry in Oswestry, just off the A5. The nearest train station is in Gobowen, approximately two miles from the hospital. The station is part of the Chester to Birmingham line. We are based in North Shropshire, close to the border with North and Mid Wales. It is one of the most attractive parts of the country, with a rich historic culture and excellent transport links. It offers outstanding opportunities for anyone who enjoys an outdoor lifestyle or is looking to raise a family.
Job responsibilities
We are looking for a highly motivated colleague with an interest in orthopaedic anaesthesia to provide anaesthesia and peri-operative care for all aspects of orthopaedic surgery.
The posts are for a permanent whole time (10 programmed activities).
The posts will involve all aspects of peri-operative anaesthetic care for orthopaedic and spinal surgery and the postholder will be expected to:
* Ensure effective and open communication with anaesthetic and surgical colleagues.
* Take part in all aspects of pre, intra and postoperative anaesthetic care for both inpatient and day case orthopaedic surgery.
* Demonstrate a degree of flexibility in their working patterns, as demanded by a consultant-based service.
* Take part in the anaesthetic on-call rota. This is currently 1:15, though this may be subject to change.
* Provide in-theatre and formal training for rotating specialist registrars, nurses, ODPs and colleagues
* Assess patients fitness for surgery within the pre-op clinic, both directly and indirectly by supervising nursing colleagues
You will be joining an experienced team of 29 Consultants, 2 Specialists, one Associate Specialist and actively recruiting to a Specialty Docto r in anaesthesia rota. The hospital has nine inpatient wards including a private patient ward, a paediatric ward, plus a HDU ward, thirteen operating theatres, as well as extensive outpatient and diagnostic facilities.
The department is highly active in quality and safety agendas, including regular Human Factor training sessions for all staff, running multi-disciplinary courses on the deteriorating surgical patient, in house ALS and APLS courses, and training of visiting trainees in regional and orthopaedic anaesthesia.
Any research or academic interests are actively encouraged and supported by the large on-site research team.
Person Specification
Qualification, Training and Registration
* Full registration with a Licence to Practice with the General Medical Council
* CCT (or equivalent) with entry on Specialist Register for Anaesthesia or within six months of anticipated CCT/CESR date on the date of interview
* Trained and capable in all aspects of General & Regional Anaesthesia.
* Adult and Paediatric life support training
* MSc in Regional Anaesthesia
* Postgraduate qualification in critical care or pain management
* Advanced training or post-CCT experience in a relevant field to this post
* ALS, EPALS, APLS and ATLS certification
* Life support Instructor status
* European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia
Experience/Specialist Knowledge
* Previous experience working in the NHS
* Trained and capable in all aspects of General & Regional Anaesthesia
* Experience in anaesthesia for orthopaedic surgery
* Experience of anaesthesia for spinal surgery
* Willingness to learn new skills in relevant areas of interest
* Demonstrable recent experience of anaesthesia for paediatrics
Professional values, behaviours and knowledge
* Adheres to professional requirements of annual appraisal, job planning and reviews of performance and progression
* Demonstrates the professional values and behaviours set out in Good Medical Practice Provides safe and effective general and regional anaesthesia, and procedural sedation, independently for all patients
* Demonstrated ability to manage patients with complex needs whilst remaining aware of their own limitations
* Provides safe and effective care for critically ill patients with specialist help and guidance
* Ability to lead resuscitation teams and safely transfer critically ill patients
* Communicates effectively with patients, relatives and carers, placing them at the centre of the care pathway
* Management experience - eg rota/leave coordinator
Leadership and team working
* Ability to lead diverse teams within all areas of the hospital
* Understands own leadership style and its impact on others
* Demonstrated ability to develop effective relationships across teams, contributing to their successful working
* Demonstrates ability to challenge others, escalating concerns when necessary
* Critically reflects on decision-making explaining them effectively to others
Patient safety and quality improvement
* Takes prompt action to ensure a high standard of safety and quality of patient care
* Ability to collaborate with hospital teams to manage risk
* Understanding of clinical governance systems
* Active and consistent engagement with local quality improvement projects
* Participates in regional or national quality improvement projects
* Implements evidence-based change to improve patient care
* Undertaken training in quality improvement methodology.
Safeguarding
* Evaluates and instigates initial management of safeguarding concerns
Education and training
* Enthusiasm to teach and train others
* Meets the requirements of a clinical/educational supervisor, as defined by the GMC
Research and Scholarship
* Keeps up-to-date with current research and best practice
* Locates and uses clinical guidelines appropriately
* Critically appraises and understands the relevance of research evidence in anaesthesia
* Supports any research activities being undertaken within the Trust as required
* Undertakes significant involvement in clinical research
* Presentations at regional and national meetings
* Publications in peer reviewed journal
Communication and interpersonal skills
* Ability to communicate with clarity and intelligently in written and spoken English
* Ability to build rapport, listen, persuade, negotiate
* Empathy, understanding, listening skills, patience and ability to work co-operatively within a team
On-Call
* Able to meet on-call commitment of being no more than 30 minutes from hospital whilst on call
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHSFT
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHSFT
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