East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Job summary
We are looking to appoint a substantive Consultant in Anaesthesia to join our busy, friendly department at East Lancashire Hospitals.
The department of Anaesthesia provides a comprehensive anaesthetic service to all specialties, with 27 theatres across 2 main sites in Blackburn and Burnley. Our specialties include:
- major cancer surgery in colorectal surgery, urology, gynaecology, ENT and maxillofacial surgery
- robotic surgery for urology, colorectal and maxillofacial and gynaecological surgery
- elective orthopaedic surgery on the BGH site with trauma and high risk elective surgery on the RBH site including inpatient paediatric surgery
- regional vascular and hepato-pancreatico-biliary services
- a comprehensive nurse led preoperative assessment service with Consultant clinics including specialist vascular pre-op clinics and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
We have a busy Obstetric Unit with approximately 6500 deliveries per year. We also have a busy 28 bed critical care unit that cares for 1600 patients per year. We take medical and surgical emergency patients and postoperative elective patients requiring a higher level of care.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will be expected to provide anaesthesia for the broad range of surgical specialties on site. This includes Colorectal, Hepato-Biliary, Vascular, Major Head & Neck, Orthopaedics and Trauma. We also provide anaesthesia for children having surgery over 6 months of age.
The job plan will consist of 10.2 PA per week, including 1.5 for SPA. There will be 1.2 DCC PA attributable to the on call and the remaining 6 sessions for anaesthetic services which may include weekend or evening sessions. The on-call commitment will be on a 1:13 basis (1.2 PA per week). This alternates between the Blackburn and Burnley sites. The Blackburn site is the acute site with ED and all general emergencies. The Burnley site on call is for Obstetrics and Gynaecology emergencies requiring anaesthesia.
The job plans are indicative and subject to change as the service demands. There may also be changes associated with “NHS Services, Seven Days a Week”.
The department takes trainees from the North West School of Anaesthesia. Teaching and training are high priorities within the department and all Consultants are expected to contribute to this.
Person Specification
Attainments
Essential
- Full registration with General Medical Council
- Inclusion on the Specialist Register or due admission to register within six months
- Previous experience within the NHS
- ALS
Desirable
- A higher qualification e.g. M.D. or MSc.
- APLS/ATLS
Training
Essential
- Satisfactory completion of previous posts providing professional training in all aspects of general anaesthesia
- Attendance at appropriate professional meetings and courses
Desirable
- Experience in Hepato Biliary Anaesthesia
- Higher level training in paediatric anaesthesia
- Experience in vascular anaesthesia
- Experience & Interest in Perioperative Anaesthesia
Experience
Essential
- Practical experience in the management of wide range of techniques relevant to anaesthesia including advanced airway management and goal directed fluid therapy
- Evidence of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and commitment to these within the Trust
- Clinical supervisor status
- An understanding of the need for quality in health care and how this is evidenced
- Awareness of basic research methods
- Familiarity with evidence based practice.
- Understanding of and experience in performing audit during general professional and higher specialist training
Desirable
- Attendance at courses in teaching, appraisal and mentorship. Organisation of Educational meeting
- Educational supervisor status
- Evidence of involvement in quality improvement projects
- Previous research projects/publications in peer reviewed journals Good Clinical Practice Trained
- Understanding of and experience in performing audit during general professional and higher specialist training
CPD
Essential
- Experience of evidence based medicine
- Ability to keep up to date in the speciality.
- Clear commitment to lifelong learning
Desirable
- Membership of appropriate post graduate societies
- IT Skills
Management
Essential
- Understanding of current NHS management systems including clinical governance and risk management.
- Attendance at management meetings
Desirable
- Attendance at appropriate management courses.
- Previous participation in a management role
- Experience in appraisal and mentoring
PERSONAL SKILLS
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with colleagues and staff in all disciplines to facilitate best patient care.
- Ability to communicate with patients and relatives effectively and with empathy
- Experience of supervision of junior staf
- Ability to lead the development of services and provoke best practice amongst the colleagues
- Ability to work in a team and evidence of such
Desirable
- Attendance at e.g. Death/Bereavement or Breaking News workshops and Counselling courses
- Evidence of development of leadership within the work environment
Closing Date: 20 October 2026
To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.