A Vacancy at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Radiology Directorate for a Consultant Radiologist join our highly functional, accomplished, and friendly team.
The Radiology Directorate offers a full range of diagnostic investigations over a number of sites (2 acute and 5 community).
The Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital is part of the PFI hospital. Radiology comprises 6 general rooms, 1 fluoroscopy room, 1 multipurpose interventional suite, 4 CT scanners (Canon 640 slice, Siemens 128 slice and 2 x 80 detector row Toshiba systems), 2 MRI scanners (Siemens Sola 1.5T) and a 3 room ultrasound suite. A further 5 ultrasound rooms are situated adjacent to antenatal and include Siemens and Canon machines. The angiography suite is within the theatre complex. Further investment is planned with a hybrid theatre to be commissioned.
Our Nuclear Medicine Department has 2 Siemens SPECT enabled Gamma Cameras.
Burnley General Teaching Hospital primarily supports out-patients and GP patients. Radiology has a single CT, two MRI systems, five general rooms, a single digital fluoroscopy room and 2 ultrasound rooms. Further ultrasound equipment is located within the Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre.
Both screening and symptomatic breast imaging services are provided for the women of East Lancashire from a dedicated Breast Imaging Unit on the Burnley General Teaching Hospital premises.
The service has a mobile MRI scanner (Philips Ingenia Evolution 1.5T).
We are seeking to appoint a capable and forward-thinking doctor. The candidate should have completed the radiology training (either in the UK or equivalent abroad) and should have sufficient skills to be able to independently report MRI, CT and US examinations within their areas of sub-specialty expertise. Must have good experience with general CT and MRI, both inpatient and outpatient scans.
The candidate is required to take a lead role in the rheumatology and orthopaedic MDTs. They must already be proficient in each of these areas without needing support.
Essential skills are:
• Independently be able to perform MSK ultrasound including procedures
• Independently perform MSK fluoroscopy procedures
• Independently report MSK X-ray, CT & MRI imaging
• Independently provide specialist MSK opinions for clinicians
There are currently 30 Consultant Radiologists working at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (28.5 WTE) with approximately 280 radiographic and support staff. Each modality has a Lead Radiographer overseeing operational management and service development. The Interventional Radiology Unit is supported by 6 dedicated IR radiographers and 6 dedicated IR nurses.
Secretarial support is provided within the department however, we have developed an electronic paperless department with digital dictation, voice recognition and electronic distribution of results. We have a single, central booked appointment system across all sites.
Day to day management of the service is supported by the Radiology Directorate Manager and Radiology Operations Manager.
There is an active skill mix programme within the Directorate with Radiographers participating in x-ray reporting (Chest, Abdomen & MSK), CT, MRI, Breast and Nuclear Medicine reporting.
Both hospital sites are training departments for student radiographers. There are close teaching links with the University of Cumbria and the University of Salford.
The Radiology Directorate is headed by the Clinical Director. The Directorate resides within the Division of Diagnostics and Clinical Support which includes Pathology, Pharmacy, Therapies. The Division is supported with dedicated Human Resources, Finance and Governance colleagues.
To take a lead role in the rheumatology & orthopaedic MDTs, undertake MSK ultrasound including fluroscopy procedures, independently report MSK Xray, CT & MRI. Provide specialist MSK opinion.
A sample 10.0 PA job plan subject to discussion would include:
• 3.5 sessions cold reporting mainly MSK scans
• 1 session hot reporting - acute MRI and/or CT
• 1 session injections (screening and/or ultrasound guided
• 0.5 sessions MDT
• 2 sessions ultrasound
• 0.75 session free in lieu of on call (1 in 20)
• 1.25 SPA session off site
0.25 SPA is afforded to departmental meetings (directorate, audit, REALM, consultant meetings) - this activity replaces a direct clinical care session.
The on-call is a 1 in 20. The radiologist is required to be on site at Blackburn 5-7pm on weekdays and 9am to 3pm on weekends. The consultant has the option to cover the rest of the on call from home. There will be an ST3-5 on call with the consultant who will be on site till 9pm. An outsourcing provider covers the on-call, reporting all the CT scan from 9pm to 9am with the local consultant then second on-call. MRI service is not provided from 9pm to 9am. It is incredibly rare to be disturbed overnight when second on-call.
The job plan will be reviewed through discussion with the clinical director within the first 3 months and annually thereafter.
The general reporting sessions can be at either Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Burnley General Teaching Hospital or Rossendale Community Diagnostic Centre, which are within an 11 mile radius. A home workstation is also provided and most radiologists choose to work 1 day per week from home. 5 hours of the core SPA is flexible and can be undertaken at home. 1 hour is usually required for departmental meetings.
As a senior employee of the Trust the candidate will work in close co-operation with clinical staff and other medical professionals and managerial colleagues in providing high quality health care to the Trust's patients. Integral to these responsibilities is:
• The provision of a first-class service
• Effective leadership to all staff engaged in the specialty
• Sustaining and developing teaching and research
• Undertaking all work in accordance with Trust procedures and operating policies
• Conducting clinical practice in accordance with Trust procedures and operating policies
A job plan will be agreed between the appointee and the Clinical Director.
This advert closes on Friday 10 Jan 2025