Job overview

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. 

Main duties of the job

• 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

Working for our organisation

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.