We are delighted to welcome applications for three Consultant posts (two substantive and one locum) to replace colleagues who have retired. One post is for a Consultant Anaesthetist with an interest in vascular anaesthesia and perioperative medicine, the second and the locum position are for general Consultant Anaesthetists. The candidates will join an expanding Anaesthetic Department in East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust (EKHUFT). Our Consultants work at the following sites: The Kent & Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury; The William Harvey Hospital, Ashford; The Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, Margate. The new appointees would be based at The Kent and Canterbury Hospital but able to work across all three sites.

Following the COVID pandemic Critical Care escalation, EKHUFT is reopening and expanding its anaesthetic services at the Canterbury site for a variety of specialities including vascular, urology, general surgery, orthopaedics, ENT, major gynae-oncology, major maxillofacial and paediatric day case surgeries. We also have an endovascular service for emergency and elective vascular surgery. Sessions are available in a wide variety of surgical disciplines and successful applicants will have the opportunity to develop their own subspecialty interests.

The Kent and Canterbury Hospital has a Regional Vascular Centre, a large Urological centre and an Orthopaedic centre performing elective hip and knee replacement surgeries. The proposed merger of Kent and Medway vascular services into one Network with arterial work undertaken in our Trust offers new and exciting opportunities to the prospective applicant. Our hospital also supports Day Surgical Services such as: General, Ear Nose and Throat, Maxillo-Facial, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Gastropexy insertion, Vascular Access, MRI, Interventional Radiology, Acute and Chronic Pain services. In addition, there are well-led general and vascular pre-assessment services (including CPEX) and the successful candidate with vascular interest will have the opportunity to support these activities, working alongside colleagues including a recently appointed perioperative physician.

The Intensive Care Unit is considered to be a Specialist Unit (including Vascular, Renal and Neurology) and is supported by the Anaesthetic Consultants and trainees. ICNARC results for the unit have been consistently better than average for the last 20 years.

Aside from the clinical responsibilities of the posts, the department is seeking a candidate who will bring to the department new skills, knowledge and techniques. A perioperative medicine interest is desirable but other areas of interest include patient safety, quality improvement, management or research experience. Possession of proven capabilities in the candidate’s chosen area of expertise together with higher training would be advantageous.

The Kent & Medway Medical School is a new medical school jointly put forward by the two Universities and is expected to admit the first cohort of medical students to its Canterbury based campus in 2020. Opportunities for joint positions with the medical school, for lecturers and clinical teaching may also be available alongside other local colleagues.

This is a very positive time for Research in Anaesthetics and Intensive Care in the Trust as the Anaesthetic department is actively developing its credentials in this area. We are currently involved in NIHR portfolio studies in Anaesthetics, Intensive Care Medicine – under current circumstances looking at COVID only, and ongoing local projects in Pain medicine. We are supported by the Trust Research team to ensure delivery of national projects, aided by our strong links with our two local Universities (Christ Church and Kent).

Opportunities exist for new Consultants to become regular faculty members of the East Kent Simulation Team, providing a wide-ranging programme of simulation-based learning activities involving staff members and trainee doctors form a variety of different disciplines. The team is also involved in a range of collaborative projects commissioned by Health Education England Kent Surrey Sussex and plays an active role in the KSS SimNet teaching community.

The departments on each site pride themselves on being welcoming and friendly, always willing to work flexibly and help one another, as well as maintaining an active social calendar.

East Kent is ideally suited for access into London and as a gateway to Europe. There are many areas of unspoilt countryside and some quiet secluded beaches as well as the main centres of population. The Stour Valley runs through the area and there are expanses of great natural beauty and charm together with many places of historic interest. Kent has an excellent reputation for both public [including grammar] and private schools. There are outstanding local sporting facilities including sailing and golf and the area has excellent housing and schools. The Continent is within immediate reach through the Channel Ports and Channel Tunnel. You can be in France within forty minutes or in Paris in two hours (quarantine permitting!