research fellow Oxford, England
Job description
TITLE OF THE POST:
NF2 Clinical Fellow
GRADE:
Registrar
SPECIALITY:
NF2
SUPERVISING CONSULTANTS:
Clinical Responsibility Dr Allyson Parry/ Dr Dorothy Halliday
FULL – TIME / PART – TIME:
Full time
BASE HOSPITALS:
John Radcliffe Hospital
WORK PATTERN:
Monday - Friday
The operation of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles is affected by a very large number of different diseases that can have a devastating effect on patients and their families, particularly when they seriously affect brain function. Oxford University Hospitals provides a comprehensive service for patients with neurological disease.
The Neurosciences Department is based in the West Wing at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Neurology
Neurology is the branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles.
Neuropathology
Neurophysiology
Neuropsychology (Russell Cairns Unit)
OUH Trust is a large world class specialist teaching hospital providing secondary care for the whole of Oxfordshire as well being a tertiary referral Centre. The services of the Trust are provided from four hospitals: The John Radcliffe Hospital, The Churchill Hospital, The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
1. Aims and responsibilities of post: Under Consultant supervision to act as the Oxford Clinical Neurofibromatosis Type 2 Fellow to work within the Nationally Commissioned Neurofibromatosis type 2 Team based in Oxford.
2. Clinical: The NF2 clinical service covers multidisciplinary outpatient clinics which are attended by specialists from Neurology, Clinical Genetics, Ophthalmology, Plastic surgery, ENT, Neurosurgery, Paediatric Neurology, Clinical Psychology, and Physiotherapy and supported by a team of 3 advanced nurse practitioners.
The service offers high quality care to patients mostly from the Southwest region. It is a joint National service with partner services based in Manchester, Cambridge, and London. The service aims to improve the quality of life for patients diagnosed with NF2. Patients are seen for an annual review and for visits between as required. NF2 is a variable condition but can be a severe life spoiling and shortening condition requiring multiple neurosurgical procedures. It is a genetic condition which can be inherited. Affected individuals typically face the threat of hearing loss, occasionally visual loss, and sometimes severely impaired neurological function. By coordinating care within a small number of centers the aim is to improve outcomes for affected individuals in terms of enhancing quality of life, maintaining hearing, and avoiding surgery where feasible. The service has introduced non-surgical treatment options, such as treatment with the anti-VEGF medication bevacizumab with rigorous patient selection and monitoring.
There would be an opportunity to attend non NF2 clinics in Clinical Genetics, Neurosciences or ENT, according to the post holders’ interest and training.
Research The candidate will be expected to work for a higher degree in NF2 research which could have an emphasis on neurology, genetics, ENT, neurological/neurosurgical/neuropsychiatric aspects of NF2.
The candidate would normally have completed their core medical training and wish for a career in one of the relevant specialties involved in NF2 such as neurology, clinical genetics, psychiatry, plastic surgery, ENT or neurosurgery.
3. Facilities for study and training: Good library and online facilities are available at The John Radcliffe Hospital and at other libraries in the Central Oxford Hospitals. There are specialist training programs for registrars in the core NF2 disciplines which trainees at this stage can join.
4. Teaching, Audit and Research:
- Participation in audit is required.
- Research Opportunities: The candidate is expected to obtain a higher research degree during this post.
5. Clinical Governance: The post-holder will participate in clinical governance activities, including clinical audit, clinical effectiveness, risk management, quality improvement activities as required by the Trust, and external accrediting bodies.
6. Personal and Professional Development: The post-holder will be required to keep himself/herself fully up-to-date with their relevant area of practice and to be able to demonstrate this to the satisfaction of the Trust.
7. Management: The post-holder will be required to work within the Trust's management policies and procedures, both statutory and internal, accepting that the resources available to the Trust are finite and that all changes in clinical practice or workload, or developments requiring additional resources must have prior agreement with the Trust. He/she will undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of NF2 patients and the associated service.
