Lancashire Cardiac Centre performs approximately 1200 cardiac procedures per year including standard coronary artery bypass operations and valve replacements, both on and off pump, but also offers UK-leading advanced minimal access surgical techniques. There is the opportunity to gain exposure and experience in anaesthesia for minimal access surgery including Right Anterior Thoracotomy and Port Access approaches for aortic and mitral valve surgery. We are expanding our thoracic work from 500 cases per year, including wedge resections, lobectomies, pneumonectomies by a combination of video assisted surgery and open surgery. We have an active and close relationship with the cardiology teams regularly providing anaesthetic services for electrophysiology, device insertions and removals, primary PCI and trans-catheter aortic valve replacements.
We provide transoesophageal echocardiography services for all patients requiring cardiothoracic / cardiology surgery with all consultants trained in the use of this diagnostic tool. We currently have 12 full time Cardiothoracic Anaesthetic Consultants with a rotational pool of trainees from regional training posts at various grades rotating through the unit.
The post is full time and will be based in the Cardiac Theatres and Cardiac ITU.
There will be opportunity to develop the duties and responsibilities of the post to match the experience and seniority of successful candidates as well as their interests e.g. an emphasis on CITU vs theatre or more distant supervision
Whilst on CITU and under the supervision of the Cardiac ICU Consultant attendance at daily ward rounds which will include assessment, documentation, and implementation of management plans.
Co-ordinate with other members of the multidisciplinary team in the ongoing medical and surgical management of all the patients on the CITU.
Triage assessment and discussion with the on duty Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist Consultant of new referrals to the CITU, whilst providing immediate emergency airway assistance for the cardiac centre including catheter laboratories both during daytime hours and out of hours.
Participation in ongoing clinical audits and research with active involvement in appropriate data collection for external sources i.e. ICNARC
Participation in both informal and formal teaching and educational programmes
The Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust sits on the west coast of Lancashire serving a population of approximately 330,000 from the surrounding boroughs of Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde whilst experiencing large seasonal fluctuations of approximately 11 million. The main hospital site based at the Victoria Hospital is a District General Hospital offering all the services expected of a hospital of that size.
The post advertised will be based at the Lancashire Cardiac Centre, based within the Blackpool Victoria site, which is a regional tertiary centre for Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery and serves a population of approximately 1.6 million from all over the North West of England.
This £52m centre, based in Blackpool, is one of the biggest developments that Victoria Hospital has seen in its history incorporating 4 cardiothoracic theatres, with a commissioning of a 5th theatre for hybrid procedures or robotic surgery underway. There are 24 critical care beds as well as 4 catheter laboratories. The Cardiac Division includes 4 wards and a separately designated Coronary Care Unit.
Our 20 bedded Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and 4 bedded High Dependency Unit provides Pre- and Post-operative care for patients throughout the division with highly trained and support staff providing ample exposure to routine post cardiac surgery care, but also more advanced intensive care techniques including the management of TAVI cases, out of hospital cardiac arrest cases and aortic dissection cases
ADULT CARDIOTHORACIC ANAESTHESIA EXPERIENCE
We can offer excellent training in Anaesthesia for:
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (Mitral, Aortic, Tricuspid valve surgery, ASD closures and MIDCABS)
Elective and Emergency coronary artery bypass surgery
Elective and Emergency cardiac valve replacement and repair
Elective and Emergency Thoracic Cases including video assisted and Thoracotomy for Pneumonectomy, Lobectomy and Wedge Resection as well as Thoracic trauma.
Elective and Emergency Thoracic Aortic surgery
Elective and Emergency Cardiology Catheter Lab exposure including
TAVI (trans arterial valve implantation)
Device insertion and removal
Electrophysiology (EP) Lists
Cardioversions
We offer excellent training in enhanced recovery for Cardiac surgery, soon to be introduced in thoracic surgery.
We have close links with Lancaster University for those who want to pursue research.
We have a state-of-the-art simulation suite, which is used to deliver training with frequent CALS courses as well as region wide Cardiac Anaesthesia and ICU Courses being run from the centre.