Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Outpatient Clinics

Outpatient clinics are carried out at the Royal Berkshire Hospital as well as at the West Berkshire Community Hospital in Newbury, at the Royal Berkshire Bracknell Clinic, and at Townlands Hospital in Henley. Across general surgery, approximately 14000 patients are seen annually.  The post holder can expect to see a mixture of colorectal, subspecialty colorectal and general surgical patients with fixed cancer appointments provided in each clinic. Colorectal Nurse Specialists run their own colorectal cancer follow-up clinics as well as supporting consultant colorectal clinics for the fixed cancer appointments.

Theatres

There are three theatre complexes at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and further theatres at the West Berkshire Community Hospital. General surgical theatres are located in the main South Wing theatre block at the RBH.

Endoscopy

The trust runs a modern purpose built 7-room endoscopy unit with x-ray facilities in one of the rooms and further endoscopy capacity at West Berkshire Community Hospital. The unit performs almost 10,000 procedures a year and offers the full range of endoscopic modalities including diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower GI endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound and ERCP. The unit is JAG accredited and a screening centre for the National Bowel Cancer Screening programme. In addition to hospital based medical staff, the unit is staffed by a GP endoscopist and 3 nurse endoscopists. Endoscopy training is a high priority and reduced points training lists and active participation with JETS is mandatory for trainees. Emergency endoscopy cover is provided by the gastroenterologists. 

Oncology

The Royal Berkshire Hospital hosts the Berkshire Cancer Centre which is one of two accredited cancer centres in the Thames Valley area, providing cancer services to people across Berkshire and areas of South Oxfordshire. There are three colorectal oncologists (Drs Alice Freebairn, Esme Hill and Ayman Madi) who undertake a full range of chemotherapy and radiotherapy associated with the treatment of colorectal and anal cancer. There are weekly colorectal cancer MDT meetings supported by dedicated non-clinical co-ordinators.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease & Intestinal Failure

Inflammatory bowel disease is managed jointly with gastroenterology colleagues. There is a bi-monthly IBD MDT meeting. The hospital is an accredited intestinal failure unit, being one of only 20 centres accredited for home TPN in the country.

On Call Activity

The on call commitment is expected to be 1:12 for weekends and out of hours activity. We have four emergency surgeons who carry out the majority of the weekday day time on-call during the week although the post holder can expect to join with the other colorectal and UGI surgeons in doing day time weekday on call 2-3 times a year. On call consultants are supported by SpR, CT or F2 and F1 doctors.

Emergency general surgery is run as recommended in the NCEPOD Emergency Surgical Services document. The rota is made up of GI surgeons. The on call surgeon is free from elective commitments during their on call duties. A dedicated emergency operating theatre is available 24 hours a day throughout the week shared with urology and gynaecology currently. The on call consultant undertakes a post take round each morning and is involved in all activity related to the on call throughout the day, supported by the junior staff.

Research, Training & Development

The trust is committed to ongoing training and support of consultants, There is a structured two year programme of induction and leadership development. Every consultant appointed is offered a choice of mentors and expected to meet with them on a regular basis.  

The Trust has an excellent reputation for education, as measured by its GMC Survey and regular responses from trainees and medical students. It has a medical library with an active Library & Knowledge Services team, a resuscitation and clinical skills department offering external nationally accredited courses and an established simulation centre - all of which are fully equipped for Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) in a virtual environment.

There is an expectation that all consultants will participate in trainee education and training, both in theatre and through running tutorials, viva practice, etc. This is an important aspect of the role. The Trust accommodates medical students from Oxford, Southampton and Brunel Universities, attracts high calibre trainees and has a good exam success record.

The post holder will work towards facilitating, growing and consolidating a research culture within their department/specialty, whilst supporting the ambitions of research within the organisation to ensure the Trust remains an excellent organisation to host research and support its own research portfolio in line with NHS and NIHR priorities.

The department has an active and well-received educational programme.  There is opportunity for research both within the department and via strong links with the University of Reading.

We have a robust programme of audit and Clinical Governance with a monthly departmental Clinical Governance meeting. Findings from audit and Clinical Governance are regularly fed into the educational meetings and communicated widely amongst the staff.

They will also be expected to contribute to the programmes of F1/F2, Core Trainee and Specialist Registrar teaching. There is a weekly colorectal meeting which involves colorectal teaching as well as a full discussion on the management of the current inpatients. The junior staff are expected to take part in teaching and presenting.

Clinical Governance

Each third Friday afternoon of the month is dedicated to general surgery Clinical Governance and study afternoon. There is a regular thorough presentation of mortality and morbidity data with case discussions. Ward and theatre staff are encouraged to attend these meetings.