There is an Anaesthetic Department based at each campus, both are large and active departments which have close operational links with Theatres on each site. The Anaesthetic Departments are also integrated with the Critical Care and Pain Management Services, all being part of the Clinical Support Division (CSD).
The Clinical Director for CSD is Dr Thearina de Beer and the Acute Care Pathway Clinical Director is Dr Hannah Sycamore. There is, in addition, a Speciality Lead on each campus; Dr Sumera Hussain at the City campus and Dr Chris Harber at the QMC campus.
Across the two campuses there are a total of 61 operating theatres. All surgical specialties are covered between the two campuses. With regard to specialties – cardiac, thoracic, renal, urology, gynaecology, burns and plastics and elective orthopaedics are located at the City campus which is also where most of the cancer surgery is undertaken. The QMC anaesthetic department supports a very significant acute surgical workload, including trauma orthopaedics, major trauma, neurosurgery and spinal surgery. All paediatric surgery is now located at the QMC campus. The QMC department also works with Critical Care to provide anaesthetic support to one of the busiest Emergency Departments in the UK. There is a large obstetric unit on each campus with dedicated obstetric junior anaesthetic cover out of hours. There is a stand-alone Day Surgery Unit on the City Campus site. On the QMC campus most day surgery takes place in the Nottingham NHS Treatment Centre. During 2008 the Nottingham NHS Treatment Centre opened on the Queen’s Medical Centre campus.
The Clinical Departments of Anaesthesia maintain close links with the University Department headed by Professor Jon Hardman. The Clinical and University departments collaborate to provide teaching for undergraduates in addition to all grades of anaesthetic trainees. Laboratory and clinical research can be undertaken and the development of individual and specialist research interests is encouraged.
The Trent Simulation and Clinical Skills Centre opened in April 2004 – a state of the art simulation centre and clinical skills facility. The patient simulator can be used to provide an extensive range of educational modules. Courses have an emphasis on key issues of crisis resource management, team training, leadership and communication skills. The current Skill and Simulator Centre Director is a Consultant Anaesthetist, Professor Bryn Baxendale.
Locally, specialty training in anaesthesia is managed by the East Midlands School of Anaesthesia, part of the East Midlands Deanery. The Anaesthetic departments are actively involved in the training of specialty trainees at all levels.