Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital

Contact Details
  • Address: Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Royal Devon University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Barrack Road, Exeter
  • ICU Department Contact Details - 01392 402424
  • Faculty Tutor Name: Dr Thomas Clark
Unit Structure
  • Number of Beds:  12 level 3 patients (or equivalent)                
  • Number of Admissions per year: Level 3:  40%    Level 2: 53%
  • Percentage of Elective vs Emergency Admissions: 16% elective admissions (165)
Overview of Case Mix within the Unit:

 

  • General ICU. 48% post-surgery (emergency or elective).
  • Predominantly emergency admissions (84%). 5% out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
  • Elective work includes high risk colorectal surgery, maximal effort cytoreductive surgery, major head and neck reconstructive surgery, scoliosis surgery and major vascular surgery.
  • There is no split site working within this unit
Research projects being undertaken within this Unit:
Recruit to a variety of multi-centre national and inter-national studies. Maintain a constant pipeline. Currently recruiting to SPICE IV, VIP 4 and REMAP-CAP. Local data research work.
Overview of the staffing for the Unit (including medical, ACCP, AHPs)
Single tier non-consultant staff rota comprised of Residents and ACCPs. Resident staffing includes doctors in core training (years 1 to 4) from ICM / Anaesthetic / ACCS ED and Anaesthesia / IMT specialties, as well as those in Trust Grade posts. Two Residents or ACCPs on each long-day or night shift (weekdays and weekends). Additional cover from Anaesthetist in training ST year 4 to 7 overnight. 24/7 Consultant cover (non-resident overnight).

Training

Training opportunities when working at this Unit:
  • Training in point of care ultrasound
  • Opportunity to attend theatre for airway experience
  • Exposure to paediatric emergencies
  • Interhospital transfers
  • Opportunity to attend a Cardiac Catheterisation lab 
  • Acting up as an ICM Consultant (for Stage 3 trainees)
  • Other: Opportunities to complete NIHR Associate PI scheme, to join South West Anaesthetic Research Matrix (SWARM, regional Resident Research Network, both at a local, regional or national level) and in local quality improvement. Clinical supervisors available for Critical Care ACF posts.

 

Departmental Teaching:

  • Fortnightly face-to-face resident teaching, fortnightly point-of-care ultrasound teaching, monthly resident in-situ simulation training, fortnightly ICU journal club, weekly Anaesthetic journal club, regional FICM teaching (face to face and on-line), Anaesthetic novices training pathway, monthly Mortality and Morbidity meetings. 

Details of clinical governance meeting days and/or M & M:                 

Monthly M&M meeting, quarterly governance meeting, quarterly ICNARC data-review meeting. Weekly MDT meeting.
The medical specialties and subspecialties it is possible to complete within theTrust/Health Board:
  • Stage 1: Emergency Medicine, Medicine, Anaesthesia 

Which SSYs are offered in your unit:  

  • Academic Research
  • Critical Care Echo
Other facilities: 
  • On-site parking, park and ride options, bike lockers / bike storage with shower facilities.
  • Departmental (Anaesthetic) rest facilities including kitchen with gourmet coffee-making facilities and lounge area (newly renovated).
  • Departmental (ICU) resident office with sleeping facilities (newly renovated). Trust mess with food and rest options.