Anaesthetics

Programme aims

The programme is aimed at those who wish to extend their experience within a leading anaesthetic team and who wish to gain an understanding of the way this is practiced and organised within the NHS and how it integrates with patient care pathways.

The programme aims to include:

• Direct experience and exposure to theatre operating lists timetabled to suit the applicants’ needs
• Opportunities to get involved with short quality improvement projects during your visit
• Opportunities to attend our in-house teaching sessions for anaesthetists
• Opportunities to attend our clinical governance meetings
• The opportunity to share knowledge and expertise with doctors, consultants and other anaesthetists
• The opportunity to develop and extend visitors’ work portfolios by gaining experience of observing one of the largest teaching hospitals in Central London, whilst gaining direct insight into the workings of the NHS

A Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to visitors upon the end of their programme.

Format

The anaesthesia programme is delivered to rotate through scheduled theatre sessions, pre-assessment clinics, HDU areas and relevant departmental teaching and research. The observer will be nominated a supervisor to coordinate their individual programme and mentor progress each week.

Who can apply

This programme is intended for non-U.K. advanced trainee clinicians at the level of specialist registrar or consultant looking for exposure to a leading NHS anaesthetic team. Visitors can apply primarily for an observership (with no hands-on element) or a practical attachment programme Those wishing to apply for the practical attachment must have GMC registration. You can apply for GMC registration directly through the main GMC website. This is likely to take a considerable time to achieve and should be factored into an attachment application.

Programme duration

It is recommended to undertake a placement of between six weeks to three months for a typical observership Attachments could be form 3 months to one year. The experience can be tailored to the applicants needs from a generic overview of our anaesthetic services to a specialised attachment to one specialised clinical area.

Anaesthetics service

We anaesthetise over 45,000 patients a year across both hospitals, including the Evelina London Children’s Hospital. Our department has a special interest in teaching and training, regional anaesthesia, patient optimisation, intra-operative echocardiography, enhanced recovery and difficult airway skills. We have an active role in the simulation centre.

We cover all surgical specialities with the exception of neurosurgery and liver transplantation.

Areas we support

• 37 Adult operating theatres
• Two Obstetric theatres
• Two Dental theatres
• Two Ophthalmic theatres
• A range of non-theatre areas including Interventional Radiology, Cardiac Catheter Labs, Assisted Conception Unit, Endoscopy
• Overnight intensive recovery
• Pre-operative assessment

Adult Surgical Services

• ENT
• Head and Neck
• Maxfax
• Thoracic
• Endo-Urology
• Urology
• Renal
• Transplant
• Orthopaedics
• Pain Management
• Plastic Surgery
• Gynaecology
• Gynaecology Oncology
• Cardiothoracic
• Vascular
• Upper GI
• Lower GI
• Breast Surgery
• Cleft
• Oral Surgery
• Ophthalmology
• Trauma Services

Example Timetable

Fees

A course fee per week will be applied; this fee excludes accommodation and travelling expenses. To find out the fee amount please email [email protected].

Please note

Clinicians are able to offer bursaries or discounted placements on an individual basis. This is at the discretion of the Directorates of GSTT and does not affect the terms and conditions of the Visiting Professional Programme agreements.

Why Anaesthetics?

Visiting Professional Gustavo Saraiva talks about his observership placement at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Anaesthesia department