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Swydd ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical responsibilities and Care Management

Pre-operative

• To carry out a variety of clinics and outpatient’s activities unsupervised, in the context of the pre-operative assessment and investigations relevant to the surgical patient
• To assist in the pre-operative education of patients undergoing thoracic surgery where appropriate
• To assist in the preparation of patient for surgery including venepuncture, cannulation taking particular care to avoid nerve injury and maintain tissue viability
• Surgical site marking and ensuring consenting of patients for routine procedures in situations where patients have already been consented by the consultant
• To display and interpret X-rays, CT scans, PET scans

Peri-operative

• To undertake the surgical procedures of VATS, PV blocks and catheter insertion etc
• Male and female urinary catheterisation and correct positioning of the patient appropriate to the surgery to be undertake
• To undertake the following specific duties unsupervised by consultant surgeon or lead SCP:

·        

• • Skin preparation and draping
  • Skin incision and dissection of chest wall tissues using surgical instruments and a high degree of manual dexterity
• Suturing of all surgical wounds
• Applying dressings to wounds
• Rigid and flexible bronchoscope
• Supervised by consultant surgeon

·        

• • Use of harmonic scalpels, diathermy for dissection and haemostasis
  • Specific thoracic procedures both open and via VATS
  • Surgical haemostasis and insertion of drains
  • Appropriate use of local anaesthetic and PV block
• To act as first or second assistant under the direction of the consultant surgeon for thoracic procedures, including: tissue retraction, applying suction, diathermy, maintaining clear field of surgical vision and assisting surgeons and monitoring patient’s vital signs
• To assist with the closure of soft tissue sternal and chest wounds with emphasis on elimination the risks of infection

Post-operative

• To participate in the postoperative assessments of the patients with particular attention to

1. wound assessment and the prevention of infection in surgical wounds
2. identification of surgical routine problems/complications and treat accordingly
3. identification of acute deterioration of patients and reporting to senior colleagues
4. Chest drain removal
5. Identification and assessment of patients with complex discharge planning needs
6. Assessment of post-operative pain and appropriate referral

• To assist in the postoperative education of patients undergoing thoracic surgery where appropriate
• To ensure that all staff identify and act upon psychosocial, psychological and physiological problems of patients, utilising specialist services as appropriate and according to agreed guidelines
• To work closely with all multi-disciplinary teams to maintain an efficient and safe service that meets the individual needs of all patients
• To carry out follow up clinics unsupervised and report any abnormal finding back to a senior colleague

Professional Development

• To take responsibility for own personal and professional development
• To act as role model and as a resource for colleagues, to enable them to develop their own knowledge and practice
• To develop own knowledge and practice in accordance with KSF and PDP
• To participate in developing training programmes for new procedures/extended roles and changes within the SCP’s practice
• To assist junior doctors and future trainee SCPs in developing their professional knowledge and skills and to transfer these into clinical practice
• To acquire new skills and techniques as cardiothoracic surgery evolves.

Management duties

• To maintain effective communication systems, including dissemination of information and access to all Trust and local policies and procedures
• To act as a specialist practitioner and assist in the assessment of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of standards of care
• To act as a resource to other members of the multi-disciplinary team providing accurate information and advice
• To initiate, develop and use flexible and innovative approaches where appropriate to meet the needs of the patients, including the review of relevant protocols and guidelines to ensure clinically effective and evidence-based care
• To assist in ensuring all patients and carers have information and health education appropriate to their needs
• To assist in ensuring a positive learning environment is maintained and utilise educational strategies in motivating and retaining staff

Financial and Information Management

• To be aware of financial issues, ensuring that thought is given to the use of consumables and that they are used appropriately
• To be proactive in identifying and promoting cost savings and improving efficiency in the use of all resources
• To collect and store information according to clinical governance which is relevant to theatre workload.

Quality Management

• To be actively involved in audit/data collection and analysis and to initiate and pursue audit projects
• To utilise results of audit and research to improve the quality of the service
• To assist in ensuring health and safety procedures relevant to the clinical areas are enforced and ensure that appropriate risk assessments are undertaken
• To review and maintain standards of record keeping and documentation
• To ensure that the principles of clinical governance and clinical risk management are integrated into patient care
• To ensure appropriate incident reporting, investigate incidents and take corrective actions
• To assist in developing a positive working environment to retain staff
• To assist in ensuring that all patient data is recorded accurately.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

• All employees of the Trust have a Statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to co-operate with management to enable the Trust to meet its own legal duties and to report any hazardous situations or defective equipment.