Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

We are looking for a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine to join our team on the adult Critical Care Unit at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.

Job Summary:

• This is a full-time post, but flexible working may be considered.
• The successful applicant will join a team of 16 ICM Consultants (14.8 WTEs).
• The job will be for 10 PAs per week to include clinical commitment to critical care (6-8 PAs), and the option for a second discipline (2PAs) such as in anaesthetics, emergency medicine or acute/specialist medicine.  It will also include 2 SPA. All job plans are annualised.  The post will attract a 3% on-call supplement. Single ICM CCT applications are encouraged and would be based on up to 8 PAs critical care (and 2 SPAs). Less than full time consultant careers are also supported in a department that recognises the importance of variable job planning to ensure the right work-life balance and an enjoyable and sustainable career.
• The job plan will be discussed on starting and at yearly meetings as part of departmental job planning. 
• Where possible, Consultants are supported to pursue their own speciality interests both within and outside the Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust Critical Care Unit, for example as part of an ECMO retrieval team, as part of the regional transfer team, supporting education and training and representation on specialty steering groups and bodies, for example FICM and the ICS. 
• In conjunction with the other Critical Care Consultants, the appointee will be responsible for directing the care of Level 2 and 3 patients referred to and treated by the department of Critical Care.  Although clinical responsibility is generally shared with the admitting Clinician(s) we work to the model of a “closed unit”. Day to day decisions about the admission and discharge of critically ill patients is the responsibility of the duty Critical Care Consultant in conjunction with the admitting service.
• In addition to providing clinical care for our patients the appointee will, in association with the other Critical Care Consultants, be responsible for the training and supervision of trainees who are appointed from other departments including Medicine, Surgery, Anaesthesia or the Emergency department. A high level of Consultant input to the supervision of trainees is expected.
• The successful applicant will take a full part in the weekly and out of hours cover of the Intensive Care Unit, in a group that currently numbers 15.5 whole time equivalent Consultants. There will be no on-call commitment to any discipline other than Critical Care. 

Intending applicants may obtain further information and/or arrange a visit by contacting Dr Sara Blakeley, Clinical Director on 02392 286000 Ext 5756 or email [email protected].

For further details, please refer to the job documents and candidate brief below:

Job Description and Sample Job Plan

Candidate Brief

www.portsmouthicu.com

Closing date: 18th July 2025

Interview date: 18th August 2025

Qualifications

Essential

• Full GMC registration with a licence to practice
• CCT in Intensive Care Medicine (or within 6 months at the date of interview) or eligible for GMC Specialist Register, (and CCT if any planned partner specialty)
• FFICM or equivalent ICM examination
• CCT or equivalent (with associated professional examination requirements) are needed for additional practice in a second speciality

Desirable

• Specific training in paediatric critical care
• Management course or experience
• Additional training in related areas (e.g. medical education, ethics, toxicology etc)

Clinical Experience

Essential

• Entry on the GMC specialist register via CCT (proposed date must be within 6 months), CESR or European Community Rights
• Demonstrable, significant and on-going experience in adult critical care medicine
• Demonstrable, significant and on-going experience in any base discipline (only applies if completed dual or joint ICM training)
• Experience in providing paediatric stabilisation and critical care.

Desirable

• Experience in general medicine
• Training and experience in teaching of the medical, nursing and allied health professional team
• ATLS or APLS provider or equivalence

Clinical Skills

Essential

• Professional skills of high standard in adult critical care medicine and the base discipline if applicable
• Professional skills in paediatric stabilisation and critical care
• Demonstrable training, experience and ability in teaching, both formally and informally
• Understanding of clinical risk management
• Understanding and commitment to quality improvement and patient safety
• Evidence of participation in clinical audit and evidence of continuing audit activity
• Commitment to research

Desirable

• Qualification in ECHO and/or point of care ultrasound

Knowledge

Essential

• Able to demonstrate appropriate level of clinical knowledge
• Knowledge and use of evidence based practice

Desirable

• IT skills
• Effective, confident presentation ability
• Experience in and outside speciality

Other

Essential

• Leadership and basic management skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Willingness to support research within the Department
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Logical thinking, problem solving and decision making
• Decisiveness/accountability
• Flexibility
• Thoroughness
• Initiative/ drive/ enthusiasm
• Evidence of understanding of constraints on resources

Desirable

• Publications
• Prizes and honours

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most. 

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.