Learning and development opportunities within the Anaesthesia department

Information about advanced training, fellowships and observerships within the Anaesthesia department at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

At GOSH we offer Higher/Advanced training in Paediatric Anaesthesia in all specialities except Burns and Liver Transplantation. Due to the complex nature of both the surgery we offer and the children we treat, paediatric anaesthesia is a consultant led service and trainees and fellows should expect a high level of direct supervision of their work, especially in the first few months of their time at GOSH. With time and with appropriate supervision by consultants, fellows will be allowed to assume the role of lead clinician for elective lists and emergency work.

There are many educational opportunities on offer for all trainees. We have weekly departmental meetings, two weekly protected teaching sessions (two-three hours), a journal club and the opportunity to attend the active teaching program throughout the Trust. Trainees are expected to take an active role in Audit, Quality Improvement, Research and Training whilst at GOSH. There are many opportunities in each of these areas.

GOSH currently offers 11 posts in paediatric anaesthesia that are advertised in open competition, 6-12 months in advance of the start date for each post .The adverts appear in the BMJ careers section, NHS Jobs and the GOSH and London Deanery websites. These are in addition to other one year and six month posts that are appointed from the London Schools of Anaesthesia.

• Six one year posts of nine months in anaesthesia and three months ICU
• FiveTrust fellow posts - all one year anaesthesia
  • Two general paediatric anaesthesia
  • One cardiac anaesthesia (with an extra 6 months of CICU added)
  • One general paediatric anaesthesia and simulation
  • One general paediatric anaesthesia and paediatric pain management

These posts aim to provide training to an advanced level in paediatric anaesthesia, as outlined in the Royal College of Anaesthetists 2010 curriculum for the CCT in anaesthesia. They are aimed at trainees who are near the end of their specialty training in anaesthesia (in years five to seven, or those who have recently acquired the CCT in anaesthesia and wish to spend a period of consolidation in this sub specialty.)

All applicants should be able to demonstrate a commitment to a career in paediatric anaesthesia in their application and have completed basic and intermediate paediatric anaesthetic blocks. Some posts are specifically aimed at those who have already done some advanced training in the specialty. The posts start at different times of the year but adhere to the usual click dates of February, May, August and November.

Doctors that trained overseas will need to register with the GMC prior to working in the UK.

For more information about Advanced training posts and fellowships please contact:

Dr Jonathan Smith or Dr Marina George
Email: jonathan.smith@gosh.nhs.uk or marina.george@gosh.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0207 829 8865
Fax: 0207 829 8866

One to two week observerships are offered at GOSH. Owing to the training commitments of the department of anaesthesia, observerships are offered subject to availability. They are unfunded, and direct patient contact is not permitted. Observerships are intended for anaesthetic trainees with a special interest in paediatric anaesthesia who are in the advanced stages of their training, or registered specialists who have completed their anaesthetic training and have an interest in paediatric anaesthesia. Observers will not receive certification or educational credit from the department of anaesthesia for time spent observing. They will not be entitled to a salary or benefits, and are responsible for the administrative and registration costs of their observership.

In addition, observers will need to register with the Trust’s postgraduate medical and education department through vanna.fadda@gosh.nhs.uk.

Longer observerships to a maximum of three months are available on a limited basis and under the same conditions set out above. The department of anaesthesia will charge a fee based on the length of the observership, for any period longer than two weeks. For observerships longer than two weeks, applicants will need to demonstrate both a specialist interest in paediatric anaesthesia and a proficiency in the English language.

Applicants should submit a copy of their curriculum vitae as well as an outline of their goals and objectives for the period of time spent at GOSH to observers.anaesthesia@gosh.nhs.uk. Please note, applicants may be requested to take an online ‘skype’ interview.

For more information about observerships, please contact:

Dr Claire McCahill

Email: claire.mccahill@gosh.nhs.uk