Paediatric Anaesthesia at Cambridge University Hospital, Addenbrookes

12 month post

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About the post

 

This post of subspecialty clinical fellow in paediatric anaesthesia would suit someone who wishes to consolidate his/her skills in paediatric anaesthesia by working in a tertiary referral center with a high volume of complex cases. The scope and the variety of cases undertaken at Addenbrooke’s will be very useful to prepare the successful candidate to undertake a consultant post as a paediatric lead in the DGH environment as well as those trainees who wish to specialise as paediatric anaesthetists in a tertiary center.

 

This post is not recognised for advanced training by the Royal College of Anaesthetist nevertheless, the post is tailored to the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCOA) Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) 2010 Advanced training in paediatric anaesthesia which should be delivered in a designated specialist centre undertaking a wide variety of complex elective and emergency paediatric procedures, with the necessary associated paediatric critical care facilities.

 

Trainees are encouraged to gain experience in more than one such centre if at all possible during their overall training. In its simplest form this might include paediatric anaesthetic practice in both the tertiary centre and a DGH within a rotational training programme. However 12 months training in a tertiary centre is essential for those wishing to practice as specialist paediatric anaesthetists.

 

Addenbrooke’s Hospital provides children’s emergency, secondary and regional tertiary services. The alignment of these secondary and tertiary services provides an impressive facility for children and babies throughout East of England.

 

Within Addenbrooke’s Hospital, the following services are provided:-

Paediatric Surgery

Paediatric Urology

Thoracic Surgery including thoracoscopic.

Otolaryngology including airway surgery

Plastics- including cleft lip and palate and correction of congenital hand anomalies.

Orthopaedic surgery

Spinal Surgery

Neurosurgery.

Gastroenterology

Ophthalmic Surgery

Dental Surgery

Maxillofacial Surgery

Paediatric Oncology and Haematology.

Radiology.

A&E

Paediatric Intensive Care

Paediatric High Dependency Unit

Neonatal Intensive Care and neonatal surgery

Respiratory Medicine.

Acute and Chronic Pain services.

Addenbrooke’s currently undertakes 5500 surgeries in children under the age of 16, with almost 1200 in children under one year of age, including 150-200 neonatal surgeries.

 

 

Relationships between the paediatric and anaesthetic departments are strong and there is an excellent spirit of co-operation, with training opportunities for each discipline in the other’s department. Support is also received from other intensive areas within the hospital. These include the neonatal intensive care unit, which provides 3000 days of intensive care annually to 560 admissions, including 100 surgical cases.

Investigative facilities within the Trust are excellent. Paediatric and respiratory radiologists, CT, MRI, and Nuclear Medicine are all readily available. Laboratory space could also be negotiated if appropriate. A PET scanner has recently been opened in connection with the neurosurgical ICU and the Brain Repair Unit.

Although there is no cardiac surgery or ECMO at Addenbrooke’s, all other forms of cardiovascular, respiratory and renal support are undertaken on the PICU, including high frequency ventilation, nitric oxide, haemofiltration and intracranial pressure monitoring.

 

 

Duties of the Post

 

In order to fulfill the above learning outcomes, the post holder will be based in theatres for a year. During that time, the post holder will be based primarily in theatres covering paediatric work; some of the lists include mixed paediatric and adults. We anticipate that approximately 50% of their clinical time will be covering paediatric lists, averaged over the time period. This will be reviewed on a 3 monthly basis and efforts made to adjust accordingly.

 

The subspecialty clinical fellow will participate in an t on call rota which is currently on a 1:8 frequency.

 

10 days of study leave (pro rata) is available. Time for supporting professional activities will be provided for at the discretion and in conjunction with the educational supervisor.

 

Expectations of the Paediatric fellow

 

The paediatric subspecialty clinical fellow will be assigned an educational supervisor who will regularly review achievement of the learning outcomes and review the fellow’s logbook. It is expected that the fellow will perform a minimum of one audit or service development project in paediatric. They will participate in teaching anaesthetic trainees in paediatric-related topics, which can include simulation teaching, MEPA.

There is an abundance of opportunities to participate in teaching other topics, and in teaching at the simulation center.

 

Candidates are strongly encouraged to undertake a paediatric transfer training course if they haven’t already done so. Other teaching and learning opportunities for the fellow include the monthly journal club, and monthly departmental clinical governance meetings among other activities.

 

Participation in research is encouraged.

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Enquiries should be directed to:

Dr Amr Abdelaal on amr.abdelaal@addenbrookes.nhs.uk or 01223217434,

or Dr Anna Hutton anna.hutton2@nhs.net