NHS EDUCATION FOR SCOTLAND – WEST REGION
SPECIALIST REGISTRAR IN INTENSIVE CARE MEDICINE
Job Description 2012
1.
INTRODUCTION
The Specialist Registrar post forms part of the West of Scotland Training Programme in
Intensive Care Medicine. The post has training approval from the GMC and will conform
to the formal training guidelines laid out in the Board documents.
The post of Specialist Registrar in Intensive Care Medicine provides 12 months of
Advanced training in Intensive Care Medicine. Additional time may be made available for
Intermediate training or training in a complementary specialty if required
During the training programme, the trainee’s education and progress is supervised by the
Regional Specialty Training Committee in Intensive Care Medicine and by designated
educational supervisors in each of the hospitals involved in the programme. The
committee is chaired by the Programme Director and comprises the Local Training
Adviser, Trust and University Representatives. Individual trainees are required to sign a
training programme agreement, and performance assessment is carried out on a regular
basis throughout training. Summative assessment is conducted annually and is based on
in-house training assessment criteria laid down by the West of Scotland Specialty
Training Committee. Study leave conforms with terms and conditions of service for the
Specialist Registrar grade. Trainees will be expected to achieve the competencies as set
out by the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine
On completion of the programme trainees will return to their base specialty and the
relevant SAC will be informed that they have had special training in Intensive Care
Medicine. Award of a dual CCT in ICM and the base specialty will be recommended if the
candidate has completed the CCT requirements of the Faculty of Intensive Care
Medicine. The base specialty will retain responsibility for the award of CCT.
A brief outline of the services provided within Intensive Care Medicine are contained in
the Appendix.
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The Trainee will be appointed by a Committee comprising representatives of the
Postgraduate Dean, Speciality Training Committee, teaching hospitals, University of
Glasgow and the National Panel of Specialists.
Applicants must currently be in a Type I training post, hold a National/Visiting Training
Number in Anaesthetics, Medicine, Surgery or Accident and Emergency Medicine. It is
intended that this training post be undertaken within the last two years of Higher
training in their base specialty Applicants from outwith the West of Scotland should
have the agreement of their Postgraduate Dean to retain their original training number
and to return to their original deanery at the end of the year of training.
Applicants must have an MB ChB, or recognised equivalent, FRCA, MRCP, MRCS or
equivalent qualification are desirable and have completed 3 months Basic level training in
intensive care. It is highly desirable that applicants show some evidence of enthusiasm
for Intensive Care beyond this. If the applicant has not completed Intermediate training
in Intensive Care Medicine or Complementary Specialty training (6 months Medicine and
IntCare\recruitment\jobdesc\Apr02
6 months Anaesthesia) it may be possible to arrange this before commencing Advanced
training.
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DUTIES OF THE POST
Training
The Trainee must make full use of the training opportunities provided in each placement.
Clinical
Under the supervision of the Intensive Care Consultants, the Specialist Registrar will be
expected to participate in duties in Intensive Care and other relevant clinical
attachments appropriate to his/her previous experience.
Administration
The Trainee will be expected, when appropriate, to participate in the day to day running
of the department in administrative activities such as organisation of on-call rotas,
organisation of undergraduate training, patient reports and letters. The Trainee will
have the opportunity to develop management skills as required by the College.
Communication
This will include:
Communication with patients and relatives.
Discussion with Consultants regarding clinical problems.
Communication with General Practitioners - this will include telephone discussion of
problems and writing of letters about cases seen in the Department.
Liaison with Specialists in other hospitals/agencies, such as district nurses, ambulance,
police etc.
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EDUCATION
Continuing Education
The Trainee will be expected to participate in educational activities on a local and
national basis.
Trainees are expected to further their education through attendance at meetings and
courses held both locally and nationally, and will be encouraged to sit either the UK or
European Diploma in Intensive Care Medicine.
Management development is encouraged and the Trainee will be expected to attend
appropriate courses.
Teaching
At the appropriate stage of training, the Trainee will be expected to take part in
departmental teaching for junior staff, undergraduates, nursing staff, etc.
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RESEARCH AND AUDIT
Research
There is a strong tradition of research in the West of Scotland. Facilities and support
for research activities are available through the University Department of Anaesthesia
and within hospital departments. The trainee will be encouraged to participate in clinical
research and time will be allocated consistent with current Terms & Conditions.
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Audit
Audit is an essential component of Intensive Care practice and the Trainee will be
required to participate in local and national audit activities.
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LOCATION OF DUTIES
The programme will be based in the Intensive Therapy Units at the Western Infirmary,
Glasgow Royal Infirmary and South Glasgow Hospitals. Attachments of suitable duration
can be made to units for Neuro, Cardiac and Paediatric Intensive Care and also to one of
the larger District General Hospitals in the deanery area The training programme will
however be individually tailored to complement previous experience.
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ASSESSMENT
The Trainee will be continuously assessed by the trainers in their place of work with
formal interviews every 6 months and annual review by West of Scotland Specialty
Training Committee
If in the opinion of the Training and Assessment Committee, the Trainee fails to show
adequate commitment or progress, career guidance will be arranged, and exceptionally, in
the absence of satisfactory progress, the committee may recommend that the contract
be terminated.
Trainees are required to keep a logbook following the requirements laid down by the
Faculty for Training in Intensive Care Medicine.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Hours and Salary
The salary scale currently applicable is appended under general information. The
standard hours of duty will remain 40 hours per week and in addition a supplement will be
paid.
Please note that the Trust is currently undertaking a monitoring exercise therefore, the
current Banding will be subject to change. An offer of Employment may not reflect the
current Banding.
Further Information
For further information on the training programme, please contact:
Dr C Murdoch, Glasgow Royal
carol.murdoch1@nhs.net
Infirmary, Glasgow.
Tel 0141 211 4000 or
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APPENDIX
Main Hospitals Involved in training
North Glasgow Hospitals
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
The Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Infirmary has 12 level 3 beds and 8 level 2 beds. In
addition to providing general intensive care for the population of North and East Glasgow,
the unit provides a tertiary referral service for patients with burns and smoke inhalation,
plastic surgery and orthopaedic trauma, in addition to upper GI and pancreatic surgery. It
admits patients with a wide variety of disorders, many of whom have been transferred in
from other hospitals for specialist facilities. Consultant cover for the unit is provided by 11
NHS Consultants, 1 Senior Lecturer and a Professor. Trainee medical staffing is supplied
from the anaesthetic trainee rota and SpRs in Medicine are attached on an ad hominem basis
for periods of up to 6 months.
There is an ICU consultant led ward round twice a day and all patients are additionally
visited daily by the hospital consultant under whose care they are admitted. An academic
meeting is held weekly. This includes a grand round followed by invited speakers, subject
reviews, journal club, mortality and morbidity reviews and a tutorial. A number of research
projects are always under way, and there is a close association with the University
Department of Anaesthesia.
Western Infirmary, Glasgow
The Western Infirmary has 8 level 3 and an adjacent 4 bedded HDU. It offers wide
experience in all aspects of general intensive care including renal support. Over 500 patients
are admitted annually for both general intensive care and to support the West of Scotland
Cancer Centre.
The Unit has a major interest in the transport of the critically ill and is the base West of
Scotland Critical Care Transfer Service which transfers over 500 patients annually.
The Unit is staffed by 6 consultants (5 anaesthetists and one A&E physician) and there are
twice daily consultant led ward rounds. In addition there is a weekly meeting where all
patients from the previous week are discussed. Middle grade staffing is by anaesthesia
trainees while attachment from other base specialties is also commonly arranged.
We participate in research and audit with several ongoing projects
Both units at the Royal Infirmary and Western Infirmary are tertiary referral units and
both receive major trauma from their own Accident and Emergency Departments.
Trainees will be expected to present material at the regular clinical and morbidity/mortality
meetings. Experience in unit administration, management and the teaching of all grades of
medical and nursing staff will be gained through emphasis on ‘hands-on’ experience, rather
than attendance as an observer.
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SOUTH GLASGOW UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS
This consists of 2 acute hospitals, the Victoria Infirmary and the Southern General. At
present both hospitals have a 5 bedded intensive care unit with approximately 300 – 370
admissions to each 5 bedded unit. Both units offer wide experience in all aspects of general
intensive care including haemofiltration.
Victoria Infirmary
Victoria Infirmary’s five-bedded ICU admits between 320 and 370 patients per annum, of
whom 85% are ventilated. The unit is staffed by an established team of six experienced
consultants. We work in close collaboration with consultants from both acute and emergency
medicine. The ICU is in close proximity to surgical HDU, CCU/medical HDU, and the main
acute medical admissions ward. The hospital has the second busiest accident and emergency
department in Glasgow which provides 25-30% of our admissions. We have a weekly grand
round where morbidity and mortality is discussed. This is also serves as the forum for audit
and journal presentations. We run special studies modules for Glasgow University
undergraduates. We have for many years trained doctors at all levels in intensive care
medicine. One ICU consultant is a member of the multidisciplinary nutrition team. Trainees
are encouraged to participate in the nutrition rounds. The ICU regularly participates in
multi-centre intensive care medicine research and supports a team of research nurses.
Southern General Hospital
The SGH has a 5 bedded general ITU which accepts around 300 patients per annum. We
have close links with the neurosurgical ITU and take their patients when renal support is
required. The helicopter retrieval service and the co-location of the National Spinal Injuries
Unit both contribute to a higher rate of traumatic injury admissions.
Six consultants staff the senior rota. All are part of the Anaesthetic department.
Consultants work a week of day time ITU cover as a block starting on a Wednesday.
There is a weekly Wednesday lunchtime meeting. Here we discuss the past weeks activity and
develop a unified plan for on going patient care. There is a regular presentation programme
for this meeting and the successful applicant would be expected to contribute here.
Teaching follows the Wednesday meeting. There is a formal published programme and all the
Consultants participate in this.
Bronchoscopy and echocardiography training at the SGH site can be organised in advance.
Other Hospitals
There are several large DGHs with ICUs of similar size to the above within easy reach of
Glasgow and trainees are encouraged to spend some time in one of them. In addition Glasgow
houses regional Neurosurgical, Cardiothoracic and Paediatric centres with specialist ICUs to
which attachments can be made.
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