Clinical Fellow Higher (ST6+) CESR programme in Anaesthesia and ICM

Job overview

Applications are invited for the posts of Clinical Fellow Higher (ST6+) CESR preparation programme in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

These posts are available from 06 August 2025 for 36 months.

• Post one : North West Anglia Foundation Trust (Peterborough Hospital) for 12 months, then Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2 years.
• Post two: East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust (Lister Hospital) for 12 months, then Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2 years.

Main duties of the job

There are 42 operating theatres in total of which there are 22 in the main theatre block, 6 in the Addenbrookes Treatment Centre, and others in Ely Day Surgery Unit, Cambridge Eye Unit, Cambridge Movement and surgical Hub and the Rosie Maternity Unit. In addition the Anaesthetic department is responsible for providing Anaesthetic services in a number of other areas across the trust e.g. Endoscopy, Radiology, Paediatric Day Unit, post anaesthesia care unit (PACU) etc.

In addition we have a well-established perioperative medicine unit with regular specialist multidisciplinary state of the art clinics for frail and elderly patients. There is currently substantial work being undertaken in the development of patient pathways across the whole patient journey for elective and emergency care.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Anaesthetic Department at CUH provides highly specialised services for a range of surgical subspecialities. We undertake a full range of complex orthopaedic and plastic surgery. Addenbrooke’s is also the tertiary centre for Neurosciences, Transplantation, Complex Obstetrics, Vascular (including Interventional Radiology), OMFS and Paediatrics for the East of England. Complex cancer surgery is undertaken in most specialties.

This 36 month fellowship programme in Anaesthetics and Intensive Care is aimed at applicants who are planning to apply for entry on to the GMC specialist register through the portfolio pathway for Anaesthetics.

The post offers the opportunity to develop and enhance experience in all anaesthetic subspecialties and services provided by a large tertiary teaching hospitals. The programme consists of structured rotation through all anaesthetic modules providing the requisite evidence needed for a successful CESR application. This includes Neuro, Paediatrics, Pain management, ICM and Cardiothoracics (currently undertaken at CTC at mid and south Essex trust at Basildon).

The CUH CESR program is now a regional programme and has additional training sites for year-one of the Felllowship Programme. This could mean working at the North West Anglia Foundation Trust (Peterborough), East and North Hertfordshire NHS trust (Lister) or The Princess Alexandra Hospital (Harlow). All appointees spend the final two at Cambridge University Hospitals.

By the end of year three, it is envisaged that all the successful applicants will have appropriate training and evidence to submit a successful Portfolio pathway application. The programme mirrors GMC and the Royal College of Anaesthetists requirements for Portfolio pathway, including non-clinical components such as audits, participating in research and opportunities for developing leadership and management skills as outlined in the 2021 curriculum.

Although this is not a recognised training post, the programme is supported by NHS England East of England (deanery) for the necessary funding for courses and support for an annual ARCP like assessment for CESR training.

The final decision to grant the Portfolio pathway approval remains with the GMC subject to approval by the Equivalence committee at the Royal College of Anaesthetists. On successfully completing the 3-year programme all the fellows will be eligible to apply for one of our Senior Clinical Fellow (SCF) posts while they await for their Portfolio pathway application to be processed by the GMC.