Locum Consultant
General Surgeon
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Job Advert
Locum Consultant General Surgeon
Salary £84,984 - £112,925 (per annum)
Plus Distant Islands Allowance of £1,074 (per annum)
Fixed Term Contract for 12 months
The Western Isles is located 30 miles off the North West coast of Scotland, and is 130 miles long from the Butt of Lewis in the North to the Isle of Barra in the South. The population of the Western Isles is approximately 26,500. The Health Board employs over 1,000 staff. There is easy access to the mainland, with regular flights between Stornoway and Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness and ferry services to Ullapool.
The post is for 10 PAs (this includes 2 SPAs) plus 2 EPAs per week (in acknowledgement of on- call availability) subject to agreement of a satisfactory job plan plus an 8% availability allowance. We would welcome full time or job share candidates in applying for this post. The Terms and Conditions of service are those determined by the New Consultant Contract (Scotland) 2004. If you do not hold permanent residential status in the UK or an EU passport, you should be eligible to apply under the current immigration process for this post. It is your responsibility to ensure your eligibility and entitlement to work in the UK in line with UK Border Agency/Immigration rules and regulations. NHS Western Isles cannot guarantee that that a certificate of sponsorship could be obtained.
This post is not eligible for relocation costs.
The successful applicant will be required to register with the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Scheme. Applicants should return applications along with a full CV together with the names of 2 referees relating to posts held in the last 2 years.
For further information, contact Dr Frank McAuley, Medical Director, NHS Western Isles on 01851 708 050 or [email protected], or Dr Jacek Rychter, Clinical Lead on 01851 708 307 or [email protected].
RURAL GENERAL HOSPITAL CONSULTANT GENERAL SURGEON
1. THE WESTERN ISLES
The Western Isles lie approximately 30 miles off the West Coast of Scotland and consist of many small islands in the Outer Hebrides. The main ones being Lewis, Harris, the Uists and Barra, with a total population of 26,500. They are easily accessible by ferry from Ullapool, Skye and Oban and by air from Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow. There is a bus service to Inverness from Ullapool which runs in conjunction with the ferry timetables and links with rail services from Inverness.
Stornoway is the administrative “capital” of the Western Isles. It has a population of approximately 8,000 and has all the facilities one would expect to find in a town of this size. There are many primary schools on the islands as well as secondary schools. They are all well equipped and have a good reputation for academic achievement. Adult education is provided through the Lewis Castle Technical College which is part of the University of the Highlands & Islands. Degree courses are available at the College.
2. WESTERN ISLES HOSPITAL
The Western Isles Hospital is a Rural General Hospital (RGH) serving the Outer Hebrides area. The hospital was opened in 1992, is modern and well equipped. The main hub hospital is in Stornoway with 96 beds covering specialties in General Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopaedics and Trauma, Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Psychiatry, Paediatrics and Radiology.
The Hospital has an up-to-date laboratory service covering the main disciplines of haematology, microbiology and clinical chemistry with ready access to more specialised investigations at other specialised laboratories in Scotland.
The Radiology Department is modern with fully digitized imaging, ultrasound, Doppler scanning and a 64-slice CT scanner. The department is fully integrated with PACS.
The obstetric ultrasound scans are performed by trained sonographers with direct links with the Fetal Medicine Ultrasound Department in the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow.
Locally based consultant services
General Medicine General Surgery, Orthopaedics Anaesthesia Paediatrics Obstetrics and gynaecology Psychiatry
Radiology Dental Services
Visiting Consultant Services
Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Dermatology Oncology Neurology Ophthalmology Renal Medicine Otolaryngology Urology Child & Adolescent Mental Health
Tertiary referrals
The main referral centres are in Inverness and Glasgow, but hospitals in Edinburgh and other hospitals in Scotland are used when necessary in accordance with established referral management system.
Outpatient Facilities
There are excellent outpatient facilities within the hospital. Visiting consultants from Inverness and Glasgow (see above) support various subspecialties.
3. DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SURGERY
Local Surgical services based in Western Isles Hospital include general surgery, orthopaedics and gynaecology. The general surgical service is provided for the population of the Western Isles which meets both elective and emergency needs. Visiting surgeons from Inverness (NHS Highland) provide ENT, ophthalmology and Urology services.
The locally based surgeons provide a general surgical service which includes: gastrointestinal endoscopy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, large bowel disease and basic support in urology. Some major general surgery and surgery in patients with severe concomitant medical disease is transferred to larger surgical units on the mainland.
The main base is the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway but outpatient clinics and outreach services are also provided in the Uist and Barra Hospital in Benbecula. There are day case GI endoscopy sessions in Uist and Barra Hospital in Benbecula and Surgical out-patient clinics which are covered by another surgeon. In future the responsibility of this service could be in hands of the surgeon from Western Isles Hospital or the service could be transferred to it.
There are no surgical in-patient facilities within Uist and Barra Hospital or St Brendan’s Hospital, Barra.
The organization of surgical services within NHS Western Isles is kept under regular review in response to population health needs, national targets and guarantees. Close working with other surgical specialties and input to the overall modernization programme for the hospital will be among the areas that successful candidates will contribute to.
Workload
General Surgery deals with around 800 inpatients and 500 day cases per year. There are 1 – 4 (average 1.5) emergency admissions per day.
There are approximately 800 new outpatients per year and some ‘return’ patients. Our outpatient waiting times are shorter than the national average and we always met TTG targets before COVID-19 era.
Timetable of activities which have a specific location and time
DAY HOSPITAL / LOCATION TYPE OF WORK Monday WIH - OT Operating Theatre list From / To 8:30 – 17:00 (every third week) Tuesday WIH 09:00 - 13:00 Outpatient Clinic From / To WIH 13:00 – 17:00 Endoscopy list Wednesday WIH – OT Operating Theatre list From / To 8:30 – 17:00 (every third week)
Thursday From / To WIH 9:00 – 13:00 Outpatient Clinic
WIH – OT Endoscopy List 13:00 – 17:00
Friday From / To WIH Video conferencing GI MDT
14:00 – 16:00 Saturday On-call 1: 3
Sunday On-call 1: 3
The General Surgical Unit provides the following services:
In-patient care relating to emergency and elective patients with 12 in-patient beds, 2 High Dependency Area beds and a 10 beds day care unit.
The consultant surgeon is on call according to 1:2 rota. As there are usually no middle grade surgical personnel on call, the consultant surgeon is expected to attend unplanned admissions and plan the treatment.
There is a monthly visiting oncology service from Raigmore. A video link paediatric surgical consultation takes place with the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow once per month.
The General Surgical Consultants have educational, training and supervisory responsibilities for one Foundation Year 1 House Officer, one Core Surgical trainee, one GPST trainee (Mixed Surgical Specialties) – 5 weeks every 4 months, phase IV Aberdeen University undergraduate students for 20 weeks/year, one Phase V Edinburgh University undergraduate student, other undergraduates as and when clinical attachees as required
A video link gastrointestinal malignancy multi-disciplinary team meeting takes place every Friday. It involves Surgeons, Oncologists, Physicians, Histopathologists and Radiologists from Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, the Belford Hospital in Fort William and the Caithness General Hospital in Wick.
Uist and Barra Hospital (UBH)
The General Surgical service at UBH is currently not covered by the surgeon based at Western Isles Hospital. The service, consisting of 2 x 3 day sessions per month, is delivered by a stand-alone Consultant Surgeon employed by NHS Western Isles; although the appointment of 2 General Surgeons will drive redesign of service delivery at UBH. The required changes to job plan would be discussed with the Clinical Lead to reflect patient needs and service demands.
Undergraduate/Postgraduate Training
Medical students from the Universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh, other UK and EU Universities and commonwealth countries are regularly attached to the department throughout the year. The post holder will be expected to contribute in teaching medical students and in training junior staff.
The Western Isles Hospital has an active and enthusiastic undergraduate and postgraduate training program including monthly Departmental Teaching meetings and various different teaching activities.
Research
The Board encourages and where possible gives assistance to the pursuit of research by consultant staff.
Rehabilitation Services
There is a modern physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy department. These departments also provide services in the community.
Diagnostic services
The Laboratory in the Western Isles Hospital provides haematology, biochemistry and microbiology services. Raigmore Hospital, Inverness provides consultant haematological and histopathological services.
The Radiology Department is modern with fully digitized imaging, ultrasound, Doppler scanning and a 64-slice CT scanner. The department is fully integrated with PACS.
Outpatient Facilities
There are excellent outpatient facilities within the hospital. Visiting consultants from Inverness and Glasgow (see above) support various subspecialties.
Main Conditions of Services
1 The post is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Services for Hospital Medical and Dental Staff (Scotland), as amended from time to time.
2 Subject to agreement of a satisfactory job plan the Contract will be for 10 (8:2) Programmed Activities per week. The Health Board may offer up to 2 extra programmed activities according to diaried on-call activity. The salary will attract an 8% availability allowance.
3 Residence – the successful applicant will be required to reside within 10 road miles of the Western Isles Hospital.
4 Where relocation assistance has been agreed, the Board’s Policy on Removal and Associated Expenses will apply and further details will be provided as and when required.
5 For pre-employment health assessment purposes, as part of the Board’s Occupational Health Service, the successful applicant will be required to complete a health questionnaire. This will be treated in strict confidence. The successful applicant will be required to undergo a medical examination.
6 Active participation in SPSP with effective implementation of local and/or nationally agreed systems of care/care bundles.
7 Compliance with all approved Board policies and procedures
8 Annually revised and agreed job plan. The Job Plan will essentially be driven by the evolving and changing needs of the patients and services.
9 Theatre sessions may be required across the 7 days of the week in order to meet the TTG and the needs of patients
Study and Training
Study leave entitlement is a maximum of 30 days including off duty days within the leave period, in any period of three years, in relation to leave with pay and expenses in the UK. Priority will be given to CME.
Rehabilitation of Offenders
Because of the nature of this work, the post is exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (exemptions) Order 1975. You are therefore not entitled to withhold information about convictions, which for other purposes are “spent”
under the provisions of the Act, and any failure to disclose such convictions could result in disciplinary action by the Board. Any information given will be kept in strict confidence, and used only in relation to the position to which the order applies.
Visiting Arrangements Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the hospital and to meet the Consultants. Informal enquiries to Boards Medical Director Dr Francis McAuley (01851 708050) or email: [email protected] or Dr Jacek Rychter, Hospital Clinical Lead via email [email protected]
FACTOR ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE
1. ATTAINMENTS: e.g. Primary medical degree FRCS Higher degree by education, qualifications or or equivalent examination or thesis training On Specialist Register or within 6 months of CCT
2. KNOWLEDGE: e.g. procedures, Capable of independent techniques, legislation, new practice in all aspects of Completed JAG recognized technology general surgery. training in colonoscopy
Expertise in the management of anal canal Ability to perform emergency disease and faecal upper GI endoscopy incontinence
Experience of diagnostic urology (cystoscopy)
3. WORK EXPERIENCE: e.g. level, To have worked in broad Management experience knowledge acquired as a result based general surgery at a of training/education, senior level responsibilities 4. SKILLS: e.g. secretarial, Ability to take on responsibility Attended appropriate manual, mechanical, computer, for educational and clinical SCOTS courses supervisory, management, supervision of a Foundation specialised year 1 doctor, a Core Specialist Trainee and a Computer literacy General Practice Specialist Trainee. Understanding of wider Teaching and supervision of aspects of remote and rural undergraduate medical health care. students. Audit
5. DISPOSITION: e.g. Able to work as a member of a decisiveness, stress tolerance, team
initiative, judgement, persistence, dependability
6. INTERESTS: e.g. intellectual, physical, social, artistic
7. OTHER: e.g. health, appearance, Good health record, smart manner, car driver, special appearance, car driver, able to demands of post, e.g. to work work unsocial hours and on- unsocial hours/on-call/areas call covered
In the event that an otherwise appointable candidate does not have one of the essential criteria and this skill may be acquired through a period of further training, consideration may be given to offering a “proleptic appointment”.
October 2020
About the Western Isles
The Western Isles, also known as the Outer Hebrides, are a chain of islands which lie 55km off the west coast of Scotland. The islands have a population of around twenty-seven thousand people.
Those who enjoy outdoor activities will find that the islands have a lot to offer. Outdoor pursuits such as horse riding, hiking, and fishing are popular, as are water sports such as canoeing, surfing, and kayaking. Further information about outdoor and sporting activities can be found on the Outer Hebrides Tourism Information website.
The local Council website provides information regarding schools, jobs, bus timetables, and opening times of the leisure centre.
The Board works in partnership with Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP), which means that Key Worker Status will form part of their Housing Allocation Policy. For more information, please visit the HHP website.
If you have any specific queries regarding your move, please do not hesitate to contact your Line Manager, who will do their best to answer them.
Links
visitouterhebrides.co.uk welovestornoway.com hebrides-news.com hebrideanhousing.co.uk cne-siar.gov.uk
About NHS Western Isles
The Western Isles Health Board employs over one thousand members of staff, excluding GPs and Dentists. There are three main hospitals situated in the Western Isles:
Stornoway—Western Isles Hospital (Ospadal nan Eilean Siar) Benbecula—Uist and Barra Hospital (Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh) Barra—St Brendan’s Hospital
There are a number of GP and Dental Practices across the Western Isles. Community nursing services operate out of general practice premises and at community offices in key locations.
There are only two medical practices in Stornoway: the Broadbay Medical Practice on Francis Street (tel 01851 703588) and the Group Practice on Springfield Road (tel 01851 703145). Both have a pharmacy attached to the practice for the dispensing of prescriptions.
Web wihb.scot.nhs.uk
The latest information about the Board’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic can be found on the Board’s dedicated website.
Web coronavirus.wi.nhs.scot
Transport Information
The islands are accessible from mainland Scotland by ferry or by plane (please note that both services can be affected in the winter).
There are three airports on the Western Isles: Stornoway Airport, Benbecula Airport, and Barra Airport. The following destinations can be reached from these airports:
Stornoway Airport—Benbecula, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Manchester Benbecula Airport—Glasgow, Inverness, Stornoway Barra Airport—Glasgow
All flights to and from the Western Isles are operated by Loganair.
If you live in the Highlands and Islands region of Scotland, you can apply for cheaper air travel through the Air Discount Scheme. Further information on the discounts available can be obtained via the Air Discount Scheme website.
There are nine ferry ports operating in the Western Isles. Routes run between the islands, as well as to and from the mainland. All routes are operated by Calmac. Further information on the individual routes, including timetables and prices, can be obtained via the Calmac website.
Links
Ferry Travel: Air Travel: calmac.co.uk loganair.co.uk
Car Hire: Air Discount Scheme: carhire-hebrides.co.uk airdiscountscheme.com lewis-car-rental.com