Consultant Anaesthesiologist

The Coombe Hospital

• Will work in the Coombe Hospital as part of a multidisciplinary team under the direction of the Master/CEO.
• Will work as part of the Obstetrics Anaesthesia Team within the Hospital.
• Will possess the necessary skill-mix to address current deficiencies.
• Responsibility for organisation and provision of Anaesthesia and critical care services at THE COOMBE HOSPITAL

· On-call commitment in THE COOMBE HOSPITAL

· Multidisciplinary Skills and drill training, Risk Management and Quality Improvement strategies.

· Responsibility for education, training and audit in relation to anaesthesiology and critical care

· Involvement in a multi-disciplinary collaboration

· Involvement in Clinical Audit Committee and Ethics Committee as required\

· This post will also provide anaesthesia and analgesia services for maternity and gynaecological care

with an on-call commitment to current rota.

• Other commitments as may be required by the Master / CEO and Chief Clinical Operations officer (COO)

St. James’s Hospital and its associated South Dublin Surgical Hub at Mount Carmel

Clinical

• To participate in the development of, and undertake, all duties and functions pertinent to the Consultant’s area of competence, as set out within the Clinical Directorate Service Plan and in line with policies as specified by St. James’s Hospital.
• To be responsible for the care and treatment and review of all patients under his/her charge and to maintain clinical autonomy relating to the management and care of individual patients in line with the Work Practice Plan.
• To collaborate and work closely with the patient, their family, the multidisciplinary team, managerial/ administrative staff and external agencies to facilitate discharge planning, continuity of care and specific care requirements.
• To provide, as appropriate, consultation in the Consultant’s area of designated expertise in respect of patients of other Consultants at their request.
• To facilitate co-ordination, co-operation and liaison across health care settings, strengthen the interface between different locations of care and develop the concept of collaborative care planning in conjunction with other professionals.
• Together with colleagues who have similar appointments in Anaesthesiology, initiate a leadership role in shaping hospital policy with regard to the management and treatment of patients, best practice and accreditation.
• To supervise and be responsible for diagnosis, treatment and care provided by Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) treating patients under the Consultant’s care
• To support the implementation of standards which provide safe quality care, timely diagnosis and focused treatment in line with prescribed treatment protocols and international best practice.

Education

• Contribute to training and supervision of in the Department
• Register as a CAI trainer and be allocated specialist trainees by CAI SAT programme
• Supervision of audits and research carried out by NCHDs
• Participation in the education and training of staff in Anaesthesiology
• Participation in education sessions for NCHDs, nurses, allied health professionals and undergraduate students
• Participation in ongoing CPD programs

Research and audit

· Performance of appropriate research in Anaesthesiology and sub-specialities, and in collaboration with other researchers within the hospital

· Participation and promotion of clinical audit within the department, the wider hospital and on a national and international level

On-Call commitments

· There is no on-call commitment to St. James’s Hospital with this post

Background to the Post

The Coombe Hospital

The Peri-operative &Anaesthesia department at The Coombe Hospital has 6.2. permanent WTE consultant anaesthesiologists providing cover for 4 elective operating theatres plus an emergency theatre, labour ward sessions, pre-operative assessment and postoperative and postnatal follow-up clinics, women’s pain service, and critical care. Based on the National Clinical Programme for Anaesthesia (NCPA) model of care for Anaesthesiology (2019), our current level of permanent post staffing does not meet the recommendations for the delivery of safe anaesthesia and critical care.

In addition, this post will also facilitate the provision of level 2 critical care in the obstetric High Dependency Unit (HDU). The HDU in the Coombe provides care to pregnant women with high acuity of illness, necessitating a level of monitoring that exceeds “normal” practice in delivery units. Such clinical needs are associated with a range of diagnoses from post-partum haemorrhages, to pre-eclampsia, uterine rupture, HELLP syndrome, sepsis, and pregnant with medical co-morbidities (Guidelines for the Critically Ill Woman in Obstetrics, HSE 2014). The HDU is staffed by a multidisciplinary on-call team consisting of obstetricians, anaesthesiologists, and midwives on an on-call basis. The appointee will serve as an Anaesthesiology Consultant and on-site HDU lead, overseeing key aspects of Level 2 critical care at The Coombe Hospital. They will be expected to recognise, manage and review, in consultation with colleagues, critically ill patients as a member of the HDU care team and will actively participate in all aspects of level 2 critical care treatments and supports. They will provide essential clinical governance in relation to early recognition and timely management of deteriorating patients, HDU admission, management and discharge pathways. They will be responsible for the development of transfer and communication protocols for critically ill patients to and from The Coombe Hospital. Furthermore, they will mentor and supervise Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs), lead innovative initiatives, and integrate new technologies within the field of critical care. Their role will also encompass the education and mentorship of both undergraduate and postgraduate medical, midwifery and nursing staff, representation of the department in hospital committees and meetings, and active participation in clinical audits and research.

This new post will have a split commitment to St James's Hospital (SJH) (model 4 hospital) to enhance the professional links and referral pathways in either direction between the 2 hospitals. The clinical sessions at SJH will allow the post holder to maintain professional competence in a broad range of clinical skills that is essential to providing safe and competent care to critically ill pregnant women. (Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, Guidelines for Obstetric Anaesthetic Services, 2012)

This post-holder will have:

•Responsibility for organisation and provision of anaesthesiology and critical care at THE COOMBE HOSPITAL

· Responsibility for the development of transfer and communication protocols for critically ill patients within, to and from The Coombe Hospital.

•Responsibility for education, training and audit in relation to anaesthesiology and critical care

•Involvement in a multi-disciplinary collaboration

•Involvement in Clinical Audit Committee and Ethics Committee as required

This post will also provide anaesthesia and analgesia services for maternity and gynaecological care with an on-call commitment to the current rota.

The post-holder will also actively participate in multidisciplinary skills and drills training, risk management and quality improvement strategies.