Job overview

This appointment is for the post of Consultant Cardiac Surgeon to join the existing cardiothoracic team, to provide cardiac surgical services to the patient population in the Devon and Cornwall catchment area. 
This is a full-time position, based within the Cardiothoracic Centre at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, working alongside 5 Cardiac Consultant Surgeons, one Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, eleven Cardiothoracic Consultant Anaesthetists and five Thoracic Consultant Surgeons.  

There may be the requirement to carry out clinical duties off-site, as the unit covers Devon and Cornwall with peripheral outpatient clinics being held at Torbay, Royal Devon and Exeter and Royal Cornwall Hospitals.  Teaching duties may also need to be undertaken off site.

Main duties of the job

The full range of cardiac surgery, with the exception of paediatrics and transplantation is carried out.  The centre has cardiac special interests in major aortic surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery and mitral repair surgery. The clinical department and management team actively support service development and technical innovation with the recent instigation of hybrid AF ablation and the continuing success of the expanding TAVI program. The unit has adopted an active “fast-tracking” policy.  The patients within the Cardiothoracic ICU are managed jointly by the anaesthetists, surgeons and cardiologists. This team approach has proved extremely successful and has created a cohesive friendly working environment.

Working for our organisation

The Cardiothoracic Centre opened in November 1997 and completes approximately 1200 cardiac surgical cases each year, serving all of Devon and Cornwall.  Recently there has been amalgamation of the three thoracic surgery units in the Peninsula (Plymouth, Cornwall & Exeter) within the South West Cardiothoracic Centre which now also serves the whole of Devon and Cornwall.  The centre is the only cardiothoracic surgical unit within Devon and Cornwall, providing surgical capacity for five referring hospitals.  The centre has excellent working relationships and meets regularly with referring physicians.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is associated with the Medical School and the Division/Directorate/ Department has a commitment to and responsibility for a significant part of the clinical undergraduate teaching programme. The post holder will be expected to participate in these activities by mutual agreement with the Clinical Director. Such arrangements will be agreed within the Trusts' annual job planning and consultant/staff and associate specialist appraisal process.

There are regular monthly audit meetings which review all cardiothoracic surgical and cardiology activity for the relevant period.  There is a monthly CME meeting where audit, departmental business updates and M&M are presented.  All clinical duties other than emergencies are put on hold for CME.