The department of anaesthetics works across the Trust, although all Consultants have a site base for their on-call. There is an expectation that all anaesthetists will be willing and able to work sessions in both hospitals to enable all to maintain a full range of anaesthetic skills.
The Anaesthetic department provides a service for elective and emergency surgery, intensive and high dependency care, maternity, acute and chronic pain, pre-assessment and resuscitation.
The anaesthetic department currently works a flexible rota; however, areas of clinical interest, in terms of clinical theatre sessions, can be agreed. Fixed days of working can be agreed through the Trust's Flexible working policy.
At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.
Key Principles
1. Being a clinically led organisation
2. Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
3. A positive patient experience every time
4. A great place to work
5. Managing our money well
As an organisation, we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.
Across the North East and North Cumbria, we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.
Theatres
The anaesthetic department at CIC provides anaesthetic services for elective surgery in 6 inpatient, and 3 day surgery theatres, as well as a separate “NCEPOD” theatre and obstetric theatre.
In terms of emergency cover, the department provides anaesthetic services for 24/7 emergency operating theatre, A&E, obstetrics, and intensive care, as well as ventilated patient transfers as required, most commonly to the North East.
ICU
There are 9 bed spaces, including a cubicle, with current staffing for up to 8 patients, admitting approximately 750 patients per year.
The unit has 10 consultants with daytime and on-call sessions in ICU. Senior nursing is provided at band 7 and there is a Nurse Educator. Trainee resident staffing is provided by 8 anaesthesia trainees and 2 ACCS trainees from the Northern Deanery. Further expansion will involve recruitment of 2 trust grade doctors at CT1-2 level working similar patterns to the ACCS trainees.
The unit is approved by the FICM for all levels of intensive care training and has a Faculty Board Tutor. The ICU also has a 24/7 band 7 critical care outreach service to facilitate both admission to and discharge from the ICU as well as numerous educational and audit initiatives.
Staffing
The department currently comprises 24 full time Consultant anaesthetists, of whom 20 participate in 2 separate on-call rotas to cover ICU, and theatres and maternity combined.
There are 8 anaesthetic trainees on rotation from the Northern Deanery across the full range of their training from CT1 to ST6, these trainees participate in an on-call rota to provide one resident anaesthetist in the hospital.
The department currently has 2 ACCS trainees, who are able to provide some additional cover for ICU some evenings and daytime at weekends.
Anaesthetic Services
All anaesthetic consultants at CIC work flexibly in time and theatre location, with rotas published 6 weeks in advance. This enables consultants to maintain their skills across a wide range of specialities.
Surgical specialities include general surgery, vascular, urology, ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynaecology, trauma and orthopaedics, maxillo-facial, ENT, and community dentals.
Education and Training
Anaesthetic trainees at CIC come from the Northern Deanery, and we also have 2 ACCS trainees as well as regular foundation doctors and medical students rotating through the department. We have had good feedback for the training provided in the department, both by clinical and educational supervisors.
There is a regular monthly audit and governance meeting within the department, with a quarterly cross-site meeting with WCH. All members of the department are expected to attend and contribute actively to these meetings.
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