Job Advert
CONSULTANT ANAESTHETISTS
CAITHNESS GENERAL HOSPITAL, WICK
Do you want to be part of a small community with lots of opportunities?
Full time, part time, annualised hours flexible options, the choice is yours. Global citizen options available
NHS Highland is looking for Consultants to join its existing talented team based at Caithness General Hospital, Wick. The posts provide innovative arrangements for on-call and time off.
The job can offer 10 weeks per annum of overseas work which will be captured in your Job Plan alongside the work in NHS Scotland. You will have the support of the Global Health Academy, which can identify projects for you to join overseas and can assist in travel and visa arrangements for self directed projects.
Caithness General Hospital provides acute and community services to a population of just under 40,000 in an area of approximately 3,000 square miles. The area has a very varied landscape from mountains to the lonely flow country and some spectacular coastal scenery, which will appeal to someone who loves outdoor activities. World class fishing, kayaking, surfing, coastal walks and sea bird colonies are within a few miles of the hospital. This post offers the satisfaction of living and working in some of the UK's most secluded and unspoilt countryside. In addition, there are the advantages of a low crime rate and exceptional safety and freedom for children. Caithness has regular rail and bus services and there are daily flights from Wick Airport. Wick is approximately 105 miles north of Inverness and about 17 miles south of John O' Groats. The local schools are excellent and property is very affordable.
Caithness General Hospital is a small, friendly, rural general hospital with a 2-theatre suite equipped with modern anaesthetic and monitoring equipment. There is a small midwife led obstetric unit, a 3 bedded high dependency unit, a day case unit and an active chronic pain service. The Accident & Emergency Department is modern and well-equipped and there is a CT scanner on-site.
We are a close, small, friendly and supportive team of physicians, generalists, surgeons and anaesthetists. We have very close working relationships with Raigmore hospital with physicians and surgeons visiting for several days at a time allowing exchange of ideas and peer support.
The anaesthetic workload is highly varied and not burdensome. Visiting surgeons from Raigmore ensure a fresh and interesting theatre caseload. The role involves close working with the Emergency Department when required to assist or lead the resuscitation of major trauma, sick medical patients and paediatrics. True generalist skills are needed for work that can include sedation for joint reduction and cardioversion, transferring intubated patients to CT and management of the undifferentiated sick patient. We have a 3 bed HDU which is run by the acute physicians and we would encourage any interest you may have in developing this. We have a very close working relationship with the Emergency Medical Retrieval Service who transport our ventilated and unstable patients for definitive care in larger centres.
You can expect a person specific contract, which can be offered full time, part time or on an annualised basis. The post also offers the opportunity of collaborative working with Raigmore Hospital whether in theatre or ICU, together with an appropriate CPD package to maintain your skills. Opportunities are available for those at any stage of their consultant career or within six months of obtaining a CCT at the time of interview. NHS Highland will work with you on the contract which best meets your needs. We have a pragmatic approach to the use of skills that applicants may bring to the benefit of the local population.
Our ability to offer flexibility makes this a very attractive position. Two Extra Programmed Activities may be available and our goal is to work with you to meet your contractual and CPD needs. Informal visits are warmly encouraged so you can experience firsthand what we can offer.
Informal enquiries are welcomed by Dr Neil Shepherd, Joint Clinical Lead, Tel: 07393 936 765 or email: neil.shepherd@nhs.net or Dr Danuta Solanska, Consultant Anaesthetist danuta.solanska@nhs.net Tel:01955 605050.
Closing date for applications: 3 September 2020
Interview date of selected candidates: 17 September 2020
To find out more about living and working in Caithness go to
Further information on NHS Highland can be found at www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk
A job pack for this post can be accessed at https://apply.jobs.scot.nhs.uk/ 027269