Consultant Anaesthetist - Obstetrics

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust provides a range of acute services at Queen Alexandra Hospital (QAH). QAH is a very large, busy district general hospital and has gone through a major redevelopment in 2009, when three pre-existing hospitals were brought together to create a modern and spacious new block, where anaesthetics, obstetrics and intensive care departments are now all housed. There are over 7,500 full time equivalent staff, including Ministry of Defence employees, who are fully integrated into the activities of the hospital. The Emergency Department is one of the busiest in the UK, treating in excess of 180,000 patients each year. Similarly maternity services are responsible for the delivery of around 6,500 births per year, making it one of the largest maternity services on the south coast. The Trust is also home to the Wessex Renal and Transplant Unit and it holds prestigious Cancer Beacon Status for the Head and Neck Cancer Services. Queen Alexandra Hospital has around 1,200 beds, including cots (NICU), 30 theatres and superb critical care facilities with a 24 bedded ICU.

We are a large and friendly department with over 65 Consultants, 11 SAS’s, up to 35 Trainees and post CCT Fellows. We are very proud to be a MDHU (Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit) with 4 Military Consultants and a variable number of Military trainees of various grades. We have 4 qualified AA’s in a bespoke programme designed for the benefit of, and led by the department. The department also hosts 3.5 WTE Acute Pain Nurses, Peri-Operative team, 20 WTE Pre Operative Assessment Nurses and 4 Administrative and Clerical staff

As a department we have a reputation for being cohesive, innovative and providing excellent education and support to our trainees, Trust Grades and Consultants. We were delighted to be one of the first Departments in the UK to achieve ACSA accreditation from the RCOA and reaccredited again in 2023. We have also had a successful “Getting it Right First Time” (GIRFT) visit and were particularly commended for our Surgery School and our Surgical High Care Unit.

The hospital has 30 operating theatres and 5 remote suites where anaesthetic services are delivered. The department provides anaesthetic services to all sites in the Trust and supports subspecialties including:

• Major General: Colorectal, Upper GI (including Oesophagectomies), Bariatrics, Gynaecology, Urology. Including robotic surgery (4 robotic theatres)
• Major Head and Neck and ENT (including free flap surgery)
• Orthopaedics, including significant amount of regional anaesthesia
• Renal transplant and Renal Vascular access surgery
• Plastics
• Paediatrics
• Obstetrics
• Pain
• Non-theatre: Interventional Radiology, CT/ MRI, Gastro/Endoscopy and Cardiology.
• Periop Medicine: Anaesthetic Preassessment clinic, dedicated Bariatric/Upper GI clinic and MDT, CPET, daily Surgical High-Care Ward round and Surgery School (www.surgeryschool.co.uk)

The department runs numerous courses and particularly prides itself on its reputation within the region for teaching. We run a nationally-recognised difficult airway course (PAWS), numerous simulator courses (we have a high-fidelity Simulation Suite on site), Regional Anaesthesia courses and exam preparation courses.

Our Intensive Care Unit is a separate 24 bedded department within the same Care Group and 7 of the 14 Consultant Intensivists have anaesthetic sessions.

The Post

The job plan for this post is for 10.25 PA’s with 7.5 DCC (Direct Clinical Care), typically 3 clinical days per week and initially 2 SPA plus participation in the Consultant on-call rota (0.75 PA). Typical job plan comprise a mixture of fixed and float sessions. The proposed timetable for this job is attached but the exact sessions (including sub specialties) and working days will be reviewed and altered by agreement with the successful candidate prior to commencement in the post.

On-call

The department operates a 2 tier Consultant led on call rota. This is Category A on call. Each tier has a frequency of 1 in 40 giving a combined frequency of 1 in 20. The second on call consultant works in the emergency theatres during the evenings approx. 17:30 – 20:30 and is then second on call from home, where they are very infrequently called. At the weekend the second on call consultant works in the emergency theatres between 07:45 - 17:00 and is then on call from home. The first on call consultant is the first port of call from home.

Commencement of duties

These posts are currently vacant and the appointee will be required to take up the post no later than six months from the date of the offer of an appointment, unless a special agreement has been made between the appointee and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

If you consider it unlikely that you will be able to take up the appointment within such a period, you are advised to point this out at the time of your application

AAC Panel Date: Wednesday 11th February 2026

Job Description

Sample Job Plan

Essential

• Full registration and License to Practice with the General Medical Council
• Primary Medical Qualification (e.g. MBChB)
• A higher degree e.g. FRCA or equivalent
• Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register for Anaesthesia via CCT or CESR (or within 6 months of proposed date of award of CCT)

Desirable

• Higher qualification in Anaesthesia e.g. EDRA
• Possession of Additional Degree (MD, BSc), diploma or post-graduate qualification e.g. MRCP
• Completion of relevant Subspecialty Fellowship
• Award of external Prizes or Honours

Training & Clinical Experience

Essential

 Old 2010 RCOA curriculum

• Evidence of completion (or equivalent) of 8 relevant Higher Training modules
• Evidence of completion (or equivalent) of 2 relevant Advanced Training modules

New 2021 RCOA curriculum

• Completion of all stage-3 essential HALO’s or equivalent
• 12 months SIA or equivalent

Desirable

Old 2010 RCOA curriculum

• Evidence of completion of additional relevant Higher Training modules
• Evidence of completion of additional relevant Advanced Training modules
• Fellowship or Out of Programme Experience (OOPE) / Out of Programme Training (OOPT) in relevant specialist area(s)

New 2021 RCOA curriculum

• Evidence of completion of additional SIA.
• Fellowship or Out of Programme Experience (OOPE) / Out of Programme Training (OOPT) in relevant specialist area(s)

Teaching & Governance

Essential

• Achievement of Local standards to be a Clinical Supervisor
• Active regular participation in teaching and training
• Active consistent engagement with Clinical Governance and Quality Improvement
• Evidence of change Implementation
• Research, Publications and Presentation

Desirable

• Deanery Accredited Educational Supervisor
• Registered Associate or Member of Academy of Medical Educators
• Extensive/formal experience/leadership in medical education including regional teaching
• Educational qualification
• Current Provider/Instructor of Advanced Life Support (ATLS, APLS, ALS)

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Evidence of alignment with PHT Values, Behaviours & Standards
• Evidence of self-awareness, reflection and appropriately planned personal development
• Polite and helpful approach, with good communication and people skills
• Positive comments from varied theatre team members in multi-source feedback exercises
• Good organisational skills
• Evidence of a positive work ethic and personal resilience

Job holders are always required to act in such a way that the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults is safeguarded. Familiarisation with and adherence to the Safeguarding Policies of the Trust is an essential requirement for all employees. In addition, all staff are expected to complete essential/mandatory training as required by the Trust.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.