Consultant in Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Consultant

Overview

This post is in Cardiothoracic Intensive Care with or without another specialty, based at the John Radcliffe Hospital. The role involves providing direct care for adult cardiothoracic and cardiology patients on the Cardiothoracic Critical Care Unit (CTCCU). Responsibilities include admissions, leading ward rounds, follow‑up outpatient clinics, and consultations for critically ill inpatients. Depending on background, there may also be opportunities to provide anaesthesia for cardiac, thoracic and cardiology procedures.

The CTCCU manages approximately 900 cardiac surgical cases per year, over 500 thoracic cases and numerous complex high‑risk cases requiring intensive care or HDU support post‑operatively. Cardiology procedures requiring anaesthetic support include ablation, device insertion and extraction, TAVI and other structural interventions. The unit delivers Level 2 and Level 3 care for patients following both cardiac and thoracic surgery as well as emergency and elective cardiology procedures, handling more than 1,500 admissions annually, the majority of which are planned but also including emergency transfers and post‑interventional patients.

• Provide direct clinical care for cardiothoracic and cardiology patients, including admissions, ward rounds, outpatient clinics and consultations.
• Support or provide anaesthesia for cardiac, thoracic and cardiac procedural interventions as required.
• Deliver Level 2 and Level 3 critical care, including organ support such as ventricular assist devices and haemofiltration.
• Lead a multidisciplinary clinical team, ensuring effective communication and safe patient care.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation and participate in case reviews.
• Respond to emergency admissions, including transfers from other hospitals and patients with out‑of‑hospital arrest.

As a member of a teaching hospital trust, the post‑holder will:

• Participate in programmes for teaching clinical students, training doctors in training and conducting clinical examinations.
• Contribute to research activities, with the expectation that this work is included in the regular job plan review.
• Engage in clinical governance activities, including clinical audit, clinical effectiveness, risk management and quality improvement as required by the Trust and external accrediting bodies.
• Keep fully up‑to‑date with the relevant area of practice and demonstrate this to the satisfaction of the Trust.

The post‑holder will support their professional development, applying for suitable study leave and continuing professional development as per the Trust’s terms. They will also work within Trust management policies and procedures, undertaking the administrative duties associated with patient care and the running of the clinical service under the direction of the lead clinician and/or directorate chair.

Essential criteria

• Full GMC Specialist Registration (CCT or equivalent).
• Completion of a recognised training programme in Intensive Care Medicine and/or Anaesthesia.
• Significant experience in the care of cardiothoracic and general intensive care patients.
• Evidence of ability to make decisions at consultant level and manage complex clinical problems.
• Appropriate UK professional registration.

Desirable criteria

• MD, PhD.
• FFICM or equivalent Echocardiography Accreditation; TOE experience.
• Advanced cardiac life support experience (ECMO, VAD, Impella).
• Consultant or similar level experience with excellent leadership skills, including leading a clinical team in a teaching hospital setting.
• Strong organisational and management skills, understanding NHS management structure and effective administrative and time‑management abilities.
• Practical skills to function as a consultant in Intensive Care and significant contribution to successful teamwork.
• Good spoken and written English, with highly developed communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in formal and informal teaching and training.
• Routine clinical audit experience and sustained contribution to clinical governance, risk management and audit activities.
• Leadership in research or professional bodies, with organisational skill evidence.
• Training or qualification in clinical management.
• Fellowship completion in Cardiothoracic Intensive Care.
• Publications and reports demonstrating effective written communication; computing skills including word processing, spreadsheets and web browsers; experience with clinical information systems.
• Peer‑reviewed publications and research grants.