Job overview

There is an ongoing exciting programme to redesign emergency surgical services with the opening of a dedicated 24/7 same-day emergency care (SDEC) unit and acute admissions ward scheduled for 2022. This will be supported by expansion of the medical workforce and further development of advanced nurse practitioners. Included in this redesign are five day a week SDEC operating lists aimed at managing ambulatory emergency patients with same day surgery. Alongside this existing CEPOD theatre lists will be utilised for the most urgent cases. The ambition within Cardiff and Vale UHB is to develop Emergency General Surgery as a dedicated speciality while maintaining existing subspecialist input. 

            Elective inpatient surgery takes place at University Hospital of Wales within the Protected Elective Surgical unit (PESU) which is physically and operationally separated from the emergency areas of the hospital. Day case surgery currently takes place at the University Hospital Llandough and some private providers but these sites may change as COVID recovery plans develop. 

Main duties of the job

Daily duties would include attending the general surgery handover followed by a ward round with the POPS team. 

The fellow will perform independent assessments using  a CGA (Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment) approach, as well as reviewing assessments completed by non-medical colleagues. There will be regular opportunity to present cases and complete workplace-based assessments with the consultant. Experience will be gained in frailty syndromes, shared-decision-making, managing decompensation of medical co-morbidities, perioperative complications and medicines management.

The appointee would not have any scheduled out of hours duties, working 40 hours over the Monday to Friday working week with some flexibility in days/times worked if necessary.

The appointee would be expected to contribute to the teaching and training of Junior Doctors, Physician Associates and Nurse Specialists within the Emergency general Surgery department. 

Working for our organisation

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 15,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services.

Our mission is “Caring for People, Keeping People Well” and our vision is that every person’s chance of leading a healthy life should be equal.   As an organisation we are unashamedly ambitious for our population’s health, rising to the challenges of today and tomorrow through our 10-year strategy, Shaping our Future Wellbeing. We are contributing to a healthier Wales with great emphasis placed on innovation and improvement, learning from around the world and leading the way in clinical research.   Partnership working is strong at Cardiff and Vale, and we work closely with our staff and our community.    

Cardiff, the thriving Welsh capital, is a fantastic city to live and work in with an abundance of sports, arts and cultural attractions. Situated to the west of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan offers a combination of beautiful Welsh countryside and a dramatic natural coastline.  Whether city life or rural living, Cardiff and the Vale offers the best of both worlds.