Skip to main content

This site is independent of the NHS and the Department of Health.

Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
Intensive care medicine/anaesthesia
Grade
ST5 and above, Specialty Doctors and Specialist Doctors
Contract
Fixed term: 6 months (Variable depending on WTE of applicant)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
40 hours per week (minimum of 24 hours)
Job ref
387-S8169-KC
Employer
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Either Peninsula, based in Launceston or Severn, based in Bristol
Town
Bristol
Salary
£65,048 - £111,441 pa pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
28/04/2026 08:00

Employer heading

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust logo

Transfer Doctor – Retrieve Adult Critical Care Transfer Service

ST5 and above, Specialty Doctors and Specialist Doctors

As an organisation we recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Click on this link to find out about our values https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/p/about-us/our-trust-values

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.


 

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for ST5+, Specialty Doctors and Specialist Doctors in Intensive Care Medicine and / or Anaesthesia to join Retrieve, the South West Adult Critical Care Transfer Team as Transfer Doctors.  The service is commissioned through University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and has two operational bases within the region.

Retrieve provides a single point of contact for all adult critical care transfer referrals 24 hours a day. All calls are managed by a Duty Consultant who triages, coordinates and can provide remote decision-support if required.  Over the 24 hour period Retrieve operates a dedicated transfer team from each of its operational bases – one in Launceston, Cornwall, covering the Peninsula sub-region (Devon/Cornwall) and one in Bristol covering the Severn sub-region (Gloucestershire to Somerset). 

Main duties of the job

We are looking for dynamic, and enthusiastic Specialty Doctors and Trainees to undertake adult critical care transfers working alongside Duty Consultants and Transfer Practitioners to deliver the day-to-day service.  You will receive training and experience in transfer medicine with the aim of achieving autonomous practice status (with remote consultant supervision) during your time with the service.  Following an orientation and induction programme in the first weeks of the role, Transfer Doctors will be initially directly supervised by Retrieve Duty Consultants.  Transfer Doctors are expected to progress and undergo formal assessment following which, more distant supervision may be used, depending on the clinical case and Duty Consultant decision.  The post is therefore suitable for a doctor with Intensive Care Medicine and/or Anaesthesia experience who has the appropriate skillset to assess, resuscitate and stabilise critically unwell adult patients (including deliver advanced airway management) with remote supervision.

Working for our organisation

Retrieve is the South West’s dedicated Adult Critical Care Transfer Service. Commissioned by NHS England South West Specialised Commissioning, through University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and supported by the South West Critical Care Network, it serves the Acute NHS Trusts within the region. 


University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England.

UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward-thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact.  UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description for a more detailed overview of the main responsibilities  and person specification for this post

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience within intensive care medicine or anaesthesia of independently (to ST5+ level, or equivalent) assessing, resuscitating and stabilizing critically unwell patients
  • Advanced airway skills (able to deliver unplanned emergency anaesthesia outside the operating theatre to a critically ill patient with remote supervision)
  • Experience of critical care transfer
  • Demonstrates good clinical judgement
  • Completed transfer training course
  • Understands and has taken part in audit and clinical governances processes
  • Able to manage and care for complex cases with appropriate supervision
Desirable criteria
  • Designed and completed audits and/or quality improvement projects
  • Experience of critical care transfer and retrieval and/or pre-hospital emergency medicine in dedicated service

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Ability to organise and prioritise workload
  • Good communication skills
  • Honesty and reliability
  • Ability to work effectively within an MDT environment
  • Flexibility
  • Critical approach to work
  • Demonstrates initiative
  • Ability to gain confidence of both staff and patients
  • Willing to undertake additional clinical duties when necessary, including cover for colleagues on leave
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to take on administrative roles within the organisation
  • Ability to lead the multidisciplinary team

Additional and Aptitudes

Essential criteria
  • IT skills on all Microsoft packages
  • Fluent English speaker

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria
  • Full General Medical Council (UK) registration with Licence to Practice
  • FFICM or FRCA or equivalent
  • Advanced Life Support provider, trauma course provider (ATLS / ETC)
Desirable criteria
  • CCT in Intensive Care Medicine or Anaesthesia
  • Other membership, fellowship or diplomas
  • Relevant specialist courses (e.g. difficult airways, ultrasound etc)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDDisability Confident - two yearsVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerNHS Pastoral CareStep into healthMenopause Workplace PledgeDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldPride In Veterans

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Retrieve admin team
Job title
Admin team
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

For further details / informal visits contact please email:
[email protected]

Please title your email Transfer Doctor application.  If you are happy to be contacted by phone please include your telephone number and a member of the team will get in touch.

Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies