Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.
Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.
Job Description
Post - Consultant Anaesthetist (Major General)
We are a large and friendly department with over 65 Consultants, 11 SASs, up to 35 Trainees and post CCT Fellows. We are very proud to be a MDHU (Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit) with 4 Military Consultants and a variable number of Military trainees of various grades. We have 4 qualified AAs in a bespoke programme designed for the benefit of, and led by the department. The department also hosts 3.5 WTE Acute Pain Nurses, Peri-Operative team, 20 WTE Pre Operative Assessment Nurses and 4 Administrative and Clerical staff
As a department we have a reputation for being cohesive, innovative and providing excellent education and support to our trainees, Trust Grades and Consultants. We were delighted to be one of the first Departments in the UK to achieve ACSA accreditation from the RCOA and reaccredited again in 2023. We have also had a successful Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) visit and were particularly commended for our Surgery School and our Surgical High Care Unit.
The Hospital Has 30 Operating Theatres And 5 Remote Suites Where Anaesthetic Services Are Delivered. The Department Provides Anaesthetic Services To All Sites In The Trust And Supports Subspecialties Including:
- Major General: Colorectal, Upper GI (including Oesophagectomies), Bariatrics, Gynaecology, Urology. Including robotic surgery (4 robotic theatres)
- Major Head and Neck and ENT (including free flap surgery)
- Orthopaedics, including significant amount of regional anaesthesia
- Renal transplant and Renal Vascular access surgery
- Plastics
- Paediatrics
- Obstetrics
- Pain
- Non-theatre: Interventional Radiology, CT/ MRI, Gastro/Endoscopy and Cardiology.
- Periop Medicine: Anaesthetic Preassessment clinic, dedicated Bariatric/Upper GI clinic and MDT, CPET, daily Surgical High-Care Ward round and Surgery School (www.surgeryschool.co.uk)
The department runs numerous courses and particularly prides itself on its reputation within the region for teaching. We run a nationally-recognised difficult airway course (PAWS), numerous simulator courses (we have a high-fidelity Simulation Suite on site), Regional Anaesthesia courses and exam preparation courses.
Our Intensive Care Unit is a separate 24 bedded department within the same Care Group and 7 of the 14 Consultant Intensivists have anaesthetic sessions.
The Post
The job plan for this post is for 10.25 PAs with 7.5 DCC (Direct Clinical Care), typically 3 clinical days per week and initially 2 SPA plus participation in the Consultant on-call rota (0.75 PA). Typical job plan comprise a mixture of fixed and float sessions. The proposed timetable for this job is attached but the exact sessions (including sub specialties) and working days will be reviewed and altered by agreement with the successful candidate prior to commencement in the post.
On-call
The department operates a 2 tier Consultant led on call rota. This is Category A on call. Each tier has a frequency of 1 in 40 giving a combined frequency of 1 in 20. The second on call consultant works in the emergency theatres during the evenings approx. 17:30 20:30 and is then second on call from home, where they are very infrequently called. At the weekend the second on call consultant works in the emergency theatres between 07:45 - 17:00 and is then on call from home. The first on call consultant is the first port of call from home.
Commencement of duties
These posts are currently vacant and the appointee will be required to take up the post no later than six months from the date of the offer of an appointment, unless a special agreement has been made between the appointee and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.
If you consider it unlikely that you will be able to take up the appointment within such a period, you are advised to point this out at the time of your application.
To discuss the role in more detail please contact Mike Jackson, Clinical Director or Michelle Andrews, Anaesthetics Service Manager on 02392 286483.
AAC Panel Date: Wednesday 3rd September 2025
Sample Job Plan
Candidate Brief
Qualifications
Essential
- Full registration and License to Practice with the General Medical Council
- Primary Medical Qualification (e.g. MBChB)
- A higher degree e.g. FRCA or equivalent
- Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register for Anaesthesia via CCT or CESR (or within 6 months of proposed date of award of CCT)
Desirable
- Higher qualification in Anaesthesia e.g. EDRA
- Possession of Additional Degree (MD, BSc), diploma or post-graduate qualification e.g. MRCP
- Completion of relevant Subspecialty Fellowship
- Award of external Prizes or Honours
Essential
Training & Clinical Experience
Old 2010 RCOA curriculum
- Evidence of completion (or equivalent) of 8 relevant Higher Training modules
- Evidence of completion (or equivalent) of 2 relevant Advanced Training modules
New 2021 RCOA curriculum
- Completion of all stage-3 essential HALOs or equivalent
- 12 months SIA or equivalent
Desirable
Old 2010 RCOA curriculum
- Evidence of completion of additional relevant Higher Training modules
- Evidence of completion of additional relevant Advanced Training modules
- Fellowship or Out of Programme Experience (OOPE) / Out of Programme Training (OOPT) in relevant specialist area(s)
New 2021 RCOA curriculum
- Evidence of completion of additional SIA.
- Fellowship or Out of Programme Experience (OOPE) / Out of Programme Training (OOPT) in relevant specialist area(s)
Teaching & Governance
Essential
- Achievement of Local standards to be a Clinical Supervisor
- Active regular participation in teaching and training
- Active consistent engagement with Clinical Governance and Quality Improvement
- Evidence of change Implementation
- Research, Publications and Presentation
Desirable
- Deanery Accredited Educational Supervisor
- Registered Associate or Member of Academy of Medical Educators
- Extensive/formal experience/leadership in medical education including regional teaching
- Educational qualification
- Current Provider/Instructor of Advanced Life Support (ATLS, APLS, ALS)
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Evidence of alignment with PHT Values, Behaviours & Standards
- Evidence of self-awareness, reflection and appropriately planned personal development
- Polite and helpful approach, with good communication and people skills
- Positive comments from varied theatre team members in multi-source feedback exercises
- Good organisational skills
- Evidence of a positive work ethic and personal resilience
Additional Information
The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.
We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.
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