Consultant Surgeon in Gynaecological Oncology

at  The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

This role involves working within team delivering tertiary-level surgical care to Gynaecological cancer patients. It requires a dedicated individual interested in gynaecological cancer and who will be immersed in complex surgery and all this entails. Pivotal to the role would be good communication skills to discuss in detail diagnosis, complex surgical issues, and subsequent managements.
This post is for 10 programmed activities per week assisting in providing surgical care for patients in Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance with the contract for this post being held by The Christie Hospital. Active participation in weekly Specialist Multi-disciplinary team meetings to triage patients accordingly for local or specialist surgery is expected. Consultation of new and follow up patients in clinics who are supported by Clinical Nurse Specialist will occur regularly. As The Christie is a dedicated Cancer centre, clinical duties will involve attending peripheral clinics at different sites to provide specialist gynaecological cancer peripheral clinic, cancer exclusion or colposcopy clinics. Fixed theatre sessions to provide tertiary level surgery with be incorporated in job plan, including access to Da Vinci robot. All Gynaecological Oncology Surgeons provide support to other oncological surgical specialties as part of Multivisceral Surgery service for complex pelvic cancers.
We invite individuals with good communication skills and excellent knowledge in gynaecological malignancy. We wish to attract an individual who is enthusiastic and hard working and wishes to contribute to future research in gynaecological malignancies and pursue advances in gynaecological surgical treatments.
The Gynaecological Oncology team involves 5 Consultants, 1 Sub-specialty Trainee and 3 Clinical Fellows. We are supported by team of 4 Clinical Nurse Specialist as well as an administration team. We are friendly, hard-working team focused on delivering high quality patient-centred care. We encourage all members of team to engage in SMDT, clinics and inpatient care. We meet regularly to discuss governance and operational meetings. We are unique team as we focus on gynaecology cancers and support “complex pelvic” cases from other specialities, without distractions from general gynaecology and obstetrics as we are privileged to be in a comprehensive tertiary Cancer Centre. We have a well-organised infrastructure for management of peri-operative care including post discharge support and maintain good links with referral units. We partake in local, regional and national trials and encourage research and audit. As such, we are an accredited European Surgical Gynaecological Oncology Centre for Advanced Ovarian Cancer and are performing HIPEC in ovarian cancer. We provide robotic surgery for endometrial cancer and any suitable cancer case, regardless of BMI as we are supported by an excellent Critical Care Unit.
The post will be based at the Christie where the postholder will join a team of five NHS Gynaecological Oncology Consultants and will work collaboratively with the extended gynaecological oncology sMDT.
The current consultants provide the full range of oncological procedures including: radical and supra-radical ovarian cytoreductive surgery; vulval and vaginal surgery with or without plastic reconstruction; sentinel lymph node biopsies; post-radiation exenterative surgery; palliative and secondary debulking surgery; complex minimal access surgery (including para-aortic lymphadenectomies, nerve-sparing radical hysterectomies and radical trachelectomies) performed either in a laparoscopic theatre or using one of two Da Vinci robots. The successful candidate would ideally have extensive surgical skills to enhance those of the current compliment. The successful candidate would be encouraged to train in robotic surgery if not already competent.
The Christie hosts a long established internationally renowned pelvic oncology team which has its own dedicated MDT. The Gynaecological oncology team plays an integral role in the delivery of complex supra-radical pelvic surgery and management of associated conditions within this team. The team consists of colorectal, urological, plastic and gynaecological oncology surgeons. The successful candidate would be expected to support the work of the pelvic surgery team as a part of their job plan. There will be the opportunity to build on the existing close relationships with the other oncologic specialties (colorectal, urology and plastics) and there are exciting opportunities to develop joint working relationships and research opportunities with these colleagues. The appointment will be offered under the New Consultant Contract in association with agreed job planning of programmed activities with the Clinical Director and will include participation in the on-call Rota.
Possession of the MRCOG and CCT, or an equivalent recognized accreditation in Gynaecological-oncology is essential. A higher degree (MD, PhD) would be desirable for this post. Candidates will have undergone recognized specialist training and have experience in all aspects of Gynaecological oncology surgery is required. In addition, we are looking for candidates to bring exceptional levels of other skills, including but not limited to, informatics and management experience.
Candidates who are unable for personal reasons to work full time are eligible to apply and, if successful, modification of the job content will be discussed on a personal basis in consultation with consultant colleagues.
The Gynae Cancer Service at the Christie is supported by full complement of staff including:
Ms Bridget Decruze (Lead Consultant Gynaecological Oncology Surgeon)
Ms Eva Myriokefalitaki (Consultant Gynaecological Oncology Surgeon)
Mr Brett Winter-Roach (Consultant Gynaecological Oncology Surgeon)
Mr Richard Slade (Consultant Gynaecological Oncology Surgeon)

Ms Rebecca Faulkner (Consultant Gynaecological Oncology Surgeon)

• 1 sub-specialty trainees (RCOG accredited – pending approval),
• Gynae oncology and Clinical Research Fellows
• 4 Clinical Nurse Specialists
• Administrative support and management team

There is an expectation that the successful candidate will participate on the on-call rota, with 5% banding provided.
The Greater Manchester Gynae Cancer works in conjunction with an exceptional team of non-surgical oncologists, based at Christie Hospital and is supported by dedicated gynae oncology radiologists and pathologists, many of whom are national leaders in their fields.
The appointee will be based at The Christie Hospital and will provide senior input to the other departments/ surgical wards such as:
1) Main surgical ward 10 - 28 beds
2) Surgical day care unit – IPU / DOSA
3) Critical care level 3 unit - 8 beds
The Consultants have access to surgical beds on ward 10 which are allocated according to need. There is a surgical day care unit IPU, DOSA and facilities for preoperative assessment, ERAS, Anaesthetics and Critical Care at the Christie are part of the Division of Cancer Surgery and Support Services.
The new post is closely aligned to that of the other members of the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and the actual job plan will be developed to ensure maximal collaboration between colleagues. The job plan has been drawn up to reflect the needs for all individuals to discharge their clinical duties. It is clear that such arrangements requires individuals with excellent communication skills and a commitment to team working.
The agreed work plan will be subject to annual review in line with Trust policy and GMC revalidation. Appraisal in accordance with GMC revalidation will occur annually. This will also include an assessment of professional development and defined goals for the future. In the event of the consultant electing to work part time a pro rata adjustment of fixed sessions would be anticipated. This will be discussed and agreed with the division

Please refer the Job description for details