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PalliativeMedicine
BEATSON WEST OF SCOTLAND CANCER CENTRE and qUEEN ELIZABETH UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
INFORMATION PACK
REF: 40695D
Closing DaTE : 5th February 2016
SUMMARY INFORMATION RELATING TO THIS POSITION
Post: consultant Palliative medicine
Base:QUEEN ELIZABETH UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL WITH COMMITTMENTS TO beatson west of scotland cancer centre
The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre (BWoSCC), is seeking to appoint a Consultant inPalliative Medicine. This is a new post following the reconfiguration of services with the opening of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in May 2015, with large numbers of oncology patients requiring specialist Palliative Care within the QEUH. The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre (BWoSCC) opened in May 2007, completing a state of the art comprehensive cancer centre that has cost £110 million. It is Scotland’s largest cancer centre, and the second largest in the UK. The centre has undergone unprecedented investment and our clinical teams deliver oncology services to a catchment population of 2.9 million people across 4 Health Board areas. The centre is part of the CRUK virtual comprehensive cancer treatment and research centre which also includes the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research and Translational Research Centre. The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) opened in June 2015. The 14 floor adult hospital building contains 1109 beds and is one of the largest acute hospitals in the UK and home to major specialist areas such as renal medicine, haematology and vascular surgery, with support from state of the art Critical Care, Theatre and Diagnostic Services. The site is the largest in Scotland, with over 1400 beds when neurology, neurosurgery and Care of the Elderly units are included. The Hospital provides care for over 60%of Glasgow, covering a population of 574,000.The South Glasgow Palliative Care team is currently the largestand busiest service in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde ( NHS GG&C), routinely receiving in excess of 140 referrals per month. The team is currently made up of 3 Consultants (1.2 WTE substantive), Speciality Doctor (1.0 WTE), Band 6/7 CNS (3.7 WTE), Pharmacist (0.6WTE) and a team Secretary (1 WTE). Referrals are taken from all inpatient areas of the Hospital, and provide support and symptom advice for patients with a range of life limiting conditions.Patients with advanced cancer make up the majority of referrals, and regular liaison with oncology teams is a standard part of day to day practice.
Applicants must have full GMC Registration, a licence to practise and be eligible for inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register. Those trained in the UK should have evidence of higher specialist training leading to CCT in Palliative Medicine or eligibility for specialist registration (CESR) or be within 6 months of confirmed entry from the date of interview. Non-UK applicants must demonstrate equivalent training.
Glasgow has excellent schools, public transport and recreational facilities.
The Clinical Director, Dr David Dodds +44 (0)141 301 7076, e-mail
BEATSON WEST OF SCOTLAND CANCER CENTRE
CONSULTANT PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
TOPIC
1.Brief description of the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
- Role of the Cancer Centre
3.The work of the Directorate/Department/Specialty
4.The job itself
5.Duties of the post
Clinical Commitments
Teaching, Management, Research and Audit
Study and Training
Research Opportunities Study and Training Research Opportunities
Provisional Weekly Timetable
6.Arrangements to visit the Cancer Centre
7Person Specification
- Terms & Conditions
- Further Information
BEATSON WEST OF SCOTLAND CANCER CENTRE
Further Particulars of the Post of Palliative Medicine
Based at Queen Elizabeth University Hospitalwith commitments toBeatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre site.
1. Description of the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre (BWoSCC) is Scotland’s largest cancer centre, and the second largest in the UK based on activity. The centre has undergone unprecedented capital and resource investment and our clinical teams are redesigning the way oncology services are delivered to a population of 2.9m people across four Health Board areas. It offers our team of professionals a truly state-of–the-art environment in which to practise and develop their skills.An internationally-renowned teaching centre, the Cancer Centre incorporates the academic units of Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Translational Research and Palliative Care.
The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) opened in June 2015. The 14 floor adult hospital building contains 1109 beds and is one of the largest acute hospitals in the UK and home to major specialist areas such as renal medicine, haematology and vascular surgery, with support from state of the art Critical Care, Theatre and Diagnostic Services. The site is the largest in Scotland, with over 1400 beds includingexternal neurology, neurosurgery and Care of the Elderly units. The Hospital provides care for over 60% of the of Glasgow covering a population of 574,000.
Glasgow is a large, lively and friendly city and a great place to make a home. The schools are excellent and many are local to the cancer centre. In addition it has excellent transport links to other parts of Scotland, the UK and beyond. The city was host to the Commonwealth Games in summer 2014.
- Role of the Cancer Centre
The role of the Cancer Centre is to deliver all non-surgical oncology services for residents of the West of Scotland on the basis that:
services meet equitably the assessed needs of the population served
a high quality service, integrated within the Cancer Centre and also with other cancer care providers, is provided
services provided compare favourably with those elsewhere in the UK and there is continual focus on improving care and treatment for patients
expenditure represents value for money
staff are valued and encouraged to maintain high standards of patient care through, for example, access to continuing professional development
clinical outcomes are monitored and are discussed in the context of clinical audit and clinical governance
research and development are encouraged
3.The Work of the Cancer Centre
The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre provides specialist oncology services to 60% of the Scottish population. The centre sees over 10,000 new patients a year and over 70,000 return patients. Over 100,000 fractions of radiotherapy and 28,000 cycles of chemotherapy are given each year in the centre alone. The clinical teams also deliver medical cancer treatments in 13 local hospitals in partnership with local specialist cancer teams. The centre employs over 800 staff including 75 consultants in oncology and haematology. The annual budget of Specialist Oncology Services is over £100m.
The centre has 170 beds in 9 wards (3 Wards of 40 beds are for haemato-oncology). One of these wards runs as an 8 bedded Brachytherapy Unit and one as an 18 bed 5 day/week chemotherapy ward. There is also a large and busy Day Case Chemotherapy Unit comprising 36 treatment stations. The centre has a self contained Acute Oncology Assessment Unit staffed by Advanced Nurse Practitioners which provides unscheduled care for cancer patients on treatment. The centre has its own out-patient department and a large aseptic facility for cytotoxic reconstitution. The unit has an accredited gene therapy aseptic facility. Up to 10 appropriate patients are accommodated in a local hotel while they undergo radiotherapy. The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre (BWoSCC) is superbly equipped with 11 linear accelerators, the majority of which incorporate facilities for VMAT and on-board imaging (OBI).
National services at the Cancer Centre include sarcoma, prostate brachytherapy, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and ophthalmic oncology. The Cancer Centre offers the full range of evidence-based regional oncology services including CHART therapy for lung cancer.
The Cancer Centre is an internationally renowned academic centre, with Professors of Clinical Oncology, Translational Research and Gynaecological Oncology currently in post. Professor Karen Vousden heads the laboratories at the internationally renowned Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, located 3 miles from the centre. This initiative, developed in collaboration with Cancer Research UK, offers unrivalled opportunity for collaboration in basic cancer research. The Beatson Institute has undergone a £30 million redevelopment funded by Cancer Research UK and the University of Glasgow. A Translational Research Centre has recently been built on the Garscube Estate to complete a virtual comprehensive cancer research and treatment centre, given CRUK Centre status in 2011. The Cancer Sciences Division was 4th in the whole of the United Kingdom in the 2009 Research Assessment Evaluation
For the Cancer Centre as a whole, there are particularly close links with the academic departments in GlasgowUniversity of gynaecology, surgery, pathology, dermatology and ophthalmology. These involve several joint clinics as well as clinical research projects. Close links also exist with CaledonianUniversity (therapy radiography), StrathclydeUniversity and PaisleyUniversity (radiation physics).
In addition, the Clinical Research Facility at the BWOSCC is the largest of its kind to be funded by Cancer Research UK. It houses Scotland’s first ever co-ordinating centre for the National Cancer Research Institute. The unit offers support to all clinicians within the BWOSCC to initiate and conduct clinical trials. The unit has a large portfolio of Phase I - III studies across the range of cancer sub-specialties and has a particular interest in the development of first-in-man anti-cancer drugs. It is supported by designated staff and facilities for Phase I/early Phase II clinical trials. The trials unit has been rated alpha-star by external review. Already, at least 11% of the regional cancer centre’s patients are entered into clinical trials.
Clinics are held in eight hospitals within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and in seven in other board areas. Chemotherapy is prescribed and delivered in nine hospitals outwith the city of Glasgow.
In 2013 the centre opened a new Acute Oncology Assessment Unit to provide on site specialist triage and assessment of cancer patients with unscheduled needs. Thus unit is staffed by 2 Advanced Nurse Practitioners and 4 senior triage nurses 8-8pm Monday to Friday.
In May 2015 a dedicated High Acuity Unit (HAU) was opened to allow Level 1 care to appropriate patients with established protocols for patient transfer to more acute facilities when clinically indicated.
There is an established Interventional Cancer Pain Service within the palliative medicine department at BWoSCC providing assessment for anaesthetic pain interventions for patients across GG&C
The department of Palliative Medicine is currently staffed by 3 part time consultants, 1 Nurse Consultant, 3 Clinical Nurse Specialist, a full time pharmacist and 3 part time secretaries.
The team sees over 1200 new patients a year. The patients are predominantly from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, but in view of the Beatson’s supraregional status patients are seen from all over the west of Scotland. There is therefore, a need to network with other specialist palliative care providers in the west of Scotland. There are no specific specialist palliative care beds and palliative care patients are cared for jointly by the palliative medicine consultant and the relevant oncology consultant.
There is considerable provision of specialist palliative care from the voluntary sector across NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde from six specialist palliative care units: Marie Curie Hospice Glasgow, the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, St Margaret of Scotland Hospice, Accord Hospice, St Vincent’s Hospice and Ardgowan Hospice.
Site-specific teams carry out the clinical work of the Beatson. The teams include medical and clinical oncologists, site specific CNSs, radiographers and pharmacists. The palliative medicine consultants and CNSs have also integrated into the site-specific teams and provide input on ward rounds, multidisciplinary meetings (MDTs) and oncology clinics.
There is a weekly educational meeting for the palliative care team, and all team members are expected to attend and contribute.
Although the palliative care team is well integrated with the oncology teams for delivery of patient care, it retains its own identity for strategic and educational purposes. There are weekly business meetings for the palliative care team, and operational and strategic issues are reviewed on a quarterly basis.
3.The Work of the Palliative Care Team at the QEUH
The department of Palliative Medicine in QEUH is currently staffed by 3 Consultants providing 1.2WTE, 1 WTE Speciality Doctor, 3.7 WTE Clinical Nurse Specialists, 0.6 WTE pharmacist and 1 team secretary.
The team sees over 1500 new patients a year across the site, from a wide range of clinical specialties. Approximately 50% of referrals come from medical wards, with the remaining 50% spread across surgery, haematology, medicine for the elderly and other sub specialties.The patients are predominantly from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, but in view of the QEUH supraregional status for a number of services, patients can be seen from all over the West of Scotland. There is therefore, a need to network with other specialist palliative care providers in the west of Scotland. There are no specific specialist palliative care beds and palliative care patients are cared for jointly by the palliative medicine consultant and the relevant specialty consultant.
There is considerable provision of specialist palliative care from the voluntary sector across NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde from six specialist palliative care units: Marie Curie HospiceGlasgow, the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, St Margaret of Scotland Hospice, Accord Hospice, St Vincent’s Hospice and Ardgowan Hospice.
There is a weekly Grand Round for QEUH, and a developing programme of internal team educational meetings for the HSPCT.
Although the palliative care team is well integrated with the specialtyteams for delivery of patient care, it retains its own identity for strategic and educational purposes. There are fortnightlyteammeetings for the HSPCT, and operational and strategic issues are reviewed on a quarterly basis.
Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Glasgow
The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice (PPWH) is a 14 bedded Specialist Palliative Care Unit serving the Southside of Glasgow, and areas in East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire. It covers a population of approximately 500,000, including a wide mix of socioeconomic groups. The Hospice is staffed by 3 Consultants (1.6 WTE), 3 Specialty Doctors (1.6 WTE) and a team of experienced nursing staff and AHPs. PPWH delivers a very high standard of care to patients and families through a range of services including; In-Patient, Out Patient and Day Services, 7 day Hospice Community Team, Family Support Services, Carer Support, The Butterfly Project and Widening Access - our multi cultural and minorities programme that focuses on supporting marginalised communities with end of life care.
The Hospice is jointly funded by the NHS and donations and fundraising - £1.9 million from NHS and £3.1 million by our Fundraising Team each year. PPWH strive to deliver high quality and innovative Palliative Care, with exciting new developments over the coming years including a new Hospice build and expanded Transitional Care services.
4.The Job Itself
(a)Title:Consultant Palliative Medicine
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde is the employing authority.
The Names of current consultant members of the Service are:
Palliative Medicine BWOSCC
Dr Jane Edgecombe
Dr Alison Mitchell
Dr Helen Morrison
Palliative Medicine QEUH
Dr Alistair McKeown
Dr Carolyn Datta
Dr Laura Kelly
- Duties of the Post
This job plan is negotiable and will be agreed between the successful applicant and the Clinical Director. NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde initially allocates all full time consultants 10 PAs made up of 9 PAs in Direct Clinical Care (DCC) and one core Supporting Professional Activities (SPA) for CPD, audit, clinical governance, appraisal, revalidation, job planning, internal routine communication and management meetings. The precise allocation of SPA time and associate objectives will be agreed with the successful applicant and will be reviewed at annual job planning.
Clinical Commitments:
The successful applicant will complement the existing and well established
Specialist Palliative Care Team. This involves participation in well organised
and supported site specific MDTs and ward rounds, there may also be the
opportunity to contribute to the Interventional Pain Service.
A draft timetable for the post is detailed below. Details of the timetable are flexible and will take in to consideration any subspecialty interests of the candidate.
There is on call commitment to the South Glasgow Rota including the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.The on call frequency is 1 week on call in 4.
AM / PMMonday / QEUH acute reviews
Team meeting / SPA
QEUH
Tuesday / Team MDT
QEUH reviews / BWoSCC Inreach
QEUH
Wednesday / Clinical Session
BWoSCC / Clinical Session
BWoSCC
Thursday / BWoSCC Inreach
QEUH / QEUH acute reviews
Friday / QEUH H&N MDT
Team meeting / Grand round (lunchtime)
QEUH acute reviews
Sat/Sun / On call as part of South Pall Med on call rota (1:4)
Clinical sessions
Teaching, Management, Research and Audit:
The post does not have a dedicated role in departmental teaching but the
successful applicant will be expected to participate in clinical supervision of
trainees. Clinical trial recruitment is embedded within clinical practice within
the unit. The BWOSCC has a suite of seminar rooms for lectures and
meetings, and the QEUH has a newly built education centre. There is a well
developedprogram of postgraduate medical education within the
department,held on a Friday afternoon within BWOSCC and regular Grand
Round sessions at QEUH. There is scope to be involved with undergraduate
and postgraduate teaching sessions in QEUH.