Thoracic Surgery ST4

You must hold a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS, MBBS) degree or other equivalent medical qualification.

You must:

• be eligible to work in the UK.
• hold full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) at the time of application, and hold a current licence to practise on the date your post commences.
• meet the standards set out in Good Medical Practice, and not be subject to fitness to practise conditions which would prevent you taking up the post or performing fully within it.

You must not

• hold, nor be eligible to hold, a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) for this specialty.
• already be eligible for the specialist register for this specialty.

You must be able to provide complete details of your employment history, including any gaps.

• You must complete all sections of the application form fully and truthfully, in accordance with written guidelines.
• You must disclose in your application if you are subject to any ongoing fitness to practise proceedings or are subject to any fitness to practise conditions.
• If you are currently in specialty training and applying to continue training in the same specialty in another region, you must obtain a Support for Application to another region form signed by the Training Programme Director/Head of School of your current Specialty Training Programme. This must confirm satisfactory progress and be submitted with your application.
• If you have previously resigned, or been removed from a training programme in any specialty, you must obtain a Support for Reapplication to Specialty Training form signed by the Training Programme Director/Head of School and Postgraduate Dean from the region you previously undertook training in. This must be submitted with your application.

You must have evidence of achievement of core surgical competences, including the relevant competencies in Cardiothoracic Surgery as described in the Core Surgical Training curriculum, at the time of application via one of the following methods: 

• Successful completion of a UK Core Surgical Training programme, evidenced by a satisfactory ARCP outcome. This must be submitted with your application; or  

• A completed Alternative Certificate of Eligibility to Enter Higher Surgical Training. This must be submitted with your application. 

You must have completed the ST3 level (Completion of Phase 1) competencies in cardiothoracic surgery with a minimum of 12 months on an ST3+ on-call rota by the advertised post start date for the vacancy. 

You must have completed the following by the time of application: 

• At least 12 months’ experience (whole time equivalent) in general thoracic surgery of which a minimum of 6 months must have been spent at ST3 level.
• 12 months experience (whole time equivalent) in cardiac surgery of which a minimum of 6 months must have been spent at ST3 level.

If you wish to be considered for Locum Appointment for Training posts (where available)

• You must have no more than 24 months experience in LAT posts in this specialty by the advertised post start date for the vacancy. 

You must have successful completion of Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) at the time of application. 

You must not have been accepted to sit, or have sat the Part III (exit) exam in Cardiothoracic Surgery. 

Eligibility

• You meet all criteria specified in the Eligibility to Apply section above.

Clinical knowledge

• Interest in, and understanding of, the training programme.

Workplace skills

• Ability to work in multi-professional teams and supervise colleagues.
• Ability to lead, make decisions, organise and motivate other team members
• Ability to manage/prioritise own and others’ time effectively.
• Ability to work safely under pressure and deliver good clinical care in the face of uncertainty.
• Ability to monitor developing situations and anticipate issues.
• Good basic IT skills, including Microsoft Office, email, and ability to learn new systems.

Academic knowledge

• Understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues.
• Understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, patient safety, and clinical quality improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of evidence-informed practice.

Personal skills

• Commitment to personal and professional development.
• Ability to work on own initiative, demonstrating curiosity.
• Strong attention to detail, preparation and planning.
• Ability to communicate messages effectively to a range of audiences.
• Ability to negotiate and build positive professional relationships.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with a scientific approach to problem solving.

Values

• Understands, respects, and demonstrates the values of the NHS

Knowledge and Experience

• Understanding of NHS management and resources.
• Experience of management.
• Experience of research.
• Experience of audit and quality improvement.
• Experience of teaching.

Clinical Skills – clinical knowledge and expertise

• Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems.
• Ability to prioritise clinical need.
• Demonstrates appropriate technical and clinical competence and evidence of the development of diagnostic skills and clinical judgement.
• Validated logbook documentation particularly relevant to thoracic surgical exposure to date.

Research, Audit and Quality Improvement

• Understanding of basic research principles, methodology and ethics, with a potential to contribute to research.

Communication skills

• Able to discuss treatment options with patients in a way they can understand.

Organisation and planning

• Understands importance and impact of information systems.

Coping with pressure and managing uncertainty

• Awareness of own limitations and when to ask for help 

Commitment to Specialty – Learning & Personal Development

• Demonstrated interest in thoracic surgery as evidenced by logbook, audit, research and electives. 
• Career progression in Cardiothoracic Surgery should be appropriate to the time spent in the specialty.
• Shows realistic insight into Cardiothoracic Surgery and the personal demands of a commitment to surgery.
• Demonstrates knowledge of training programme and commitment to own development.
• Shows critical and enquiring approach to knowledge acquisition, commitment to self- directed learning and a reflective/analytical approach to practice.

Qualifications

• Other undergraduate degree: i.e. BA, B Eng, LIB, BMedSci (not including intercalated BSc or ‘Honorary’ MA).
• Masters degree: i.e. MSc., MPhil.
• Higher research degree: i.e. MD (UK), MS or MCh. (UK).
• PhD, D.Phil.

Clinical skills – clinical knowledge and expertise

• Exposure to cardiothoracic transplant, paediatric cardiothoracic surgery, intensive care, respiratory medicine and oncology, (interventional) radiology.
• Research, audit and quality improvement skills
• Evidence of relevant academic and research achievements, e.g. degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements in thoracic surgery.
• Evidence of participation in risk management and/or clinical/laboratory research in thoracic surgery.
• Evidence of thoracic surgical audits, quality improvement programs or research.

Commitment to specialty – learning and personal development

• Achievements relevant to thoracic surgery, including elective or other experience.
• Attendance at relevant thoracic surgical courses.
• Attendance at, or participation in, national, international, departmental, regional and online meetings relevant to Cardiothoracic Surgery with special emphasis on thoracic themed presentations (Poster/Oral).