Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology with Labour Ward Lead

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Clinical Duties

Obstetrics

• Lead care on the Delivery Suite as part of the consultant team, contributing to the 60-hour consultant presence weekly, ensuring safe, timely, and effective delivery of care for mothers and babies.
• Oversee the management of high-risk pregnancies, including antenatal and intrapartum care, providing specialist expertise and facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration with midwives, neonatologists, anaesthetists, and other allied professionals.
• Focusing on obstetric clinical governance and supporting the implementation and delivery of the Saving Babies Lives (SBL) care bundle.
• Supervise and perform emergency obstetric procedures, including instrumental deliveries, caesarean sections, and the management of obstetric emergencies such as postpartum haemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, and eclampsia.
• Conduct antenatal clinics, including the management of complex maternal and fetal conditions, providing individualised care plans for high-risk patients.
• Support postnatal care to optimise maternal recovery and neonatal outcomes, ensuring comprehensive follow-up plans for complex cases.

Gynaecology

• Provide outpatient gynaecology services, including general gynaecology clinics and specialist services such as outpatient hysteroscopy and obtaining endometrial biopsies.
• Perform elective and emergency gynaecological surgeries, including open, laparoscopic and hysteroscopic techniques, and the management of complex cases such as ectopic pregnancies and ovarian cysts.
• Contribute to the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) by managing complications such as miscarriage, molar pregnancy, and ectopic pregnancy, ensuring empathetic and timely care.
• Provide expert consultation and clinical decision-making for referrals from primary care, ensuring appropriate triage and management plans.

Service Development

• Actively engage in reviewing and developing clinical pathways to improve efficiency and quality of obstetric and gynaecological services.
• Participate in the implementation of new technologies and evidence-based practices to enhance patient care.
• Support the development and expansion of the Midwifery-Led Unit, ensuring the integration of patient-centred care models.
• Monitor and address departmental performance metrics, working collaboratively to meet local and national targets.

Leadership and Management

• Lead on obstetric clinical governance activities, including the identification and management of risks, incident investigations, and the implementation of recommendations to improve patient outcomes.
• Provide leadership within the department, ensuring high standards of clinical care, professionalism, and patient safety.
• Act as a key decision-maker in multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, providing expert advice on the management of complex obstetrics and gynaecology cases.
• Support junior medical staff and multidisciplinary teams during clinical duties, ensuring effective communication and decision-making.
• Assist in the development and implementation of departmental policies and guidelines, ensuring alignment with national standards such as those from NICE and the RCOG.

Education and Training

• Act as a clinical supervisor and educational mentor for medical students, foundation doctors, specialty trainees, midwives, and nursing staff.
• Deliver formal and informal teaching sessions, workshops, and simulation training, focusing on core obstetric and gynaecological skills, emergencies, and patient-centred care.
• Support multidisciplinary training programs, including obstetric emergency drills, fetal monitoring interpretation.
• Provide constructive feedback and assessments for trainees, ensuring their continuous professional development and progression.

Research and Audit

• Participate in clinical research, contributing to local, regional, and national studies, with opportunities to lead or collaborate on projects.
• Supervise and mentor trainees and junior staff in audit and quality improvement projects, ensuring alignment with departmental and Trust priorities.
• Regularly participate in clinical audits, ensuring the department meets and exceeds standards of care, and implement findings to drive quality improvement.
• Present research findings at departmental, regional, and national meetings to promote evidence-based practice and innovation.

On-Call and Emergency Responsibilities

• All consultants will follow an 11-week rolling rota, which includes daytime on-call shifts from 8am to 6pm, night on-call shifts from 6pm to 8am, and weekend on-call shifts on Saturday and Sunday.
• Respond promptly to emergencies in the Delivery Suite, operating theatres, and wards, ensuring timely decision-making and high-quality care.
• Support and supervise junior staff during on-call shifts, offering guidance on case management and escalation of care when needed.
• Facilitate effective handovers between shifts to ensure continuity and safety of patient care.

Service Improvement and Innovation

• Identify areas for improvement within the department and lead initiatives to enhance clinical services, patient pathways, and resource utilisation.
• Collaborate with Trust leadership to align departmental goals with broader organisational strategies and national healthcare objectives.
• Actively engage with patients and families to gather feedback and improve patient experience.
• Lead or contribute to the introduction of innovative models of care, including virtual clinics and enhanced recovery pathways.

Professional Development and Continuing Education

• Maintain and enhance clinical skills through regular participation in professional development activities, including CPD as required by the RCOG.
• Actively engage in annual appraisal and revalidation processes, ensuring compliance with GMC standards.
• Attend and contribute to local, regional, and national conferences and training events to stay at the forefront of developments in obstetrics and gynaecology.