JOB DESCRIPTION AND FURTHER DETAILS OF THE POSTS ...

THE DEPARTMENTS
Appendix B (contd.)
Trauma & Orthopaedics
The Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma is based at the North Devon District Hospital and is staffed by
six Consultants. The middle grade (non-resident on-call 1:5) staffing comprises of one Associate Specialist,
four Staff Grades and two Specialist Registrars. The junior team is made up of 2 specialist trainees, 3 F2s, and
4 Trust Grade, 2 F1s doctors operating a full shift system. The Orthopaedic service has strong links with the
RD&E Hospital in Exeter.
Capener Ward is the trauma ward at the North Devon District Hospital which has 22 beds with a further 7
flexible beds for busy periods, typically required in the summer months. The elective Orthopaedic ward is
Lundy Ward with 15 beds but there are plans for a new ward of 25 beds plus 2 elective Theatres to replace
existing elective theatres. Paediatric beds are available on Caroline Thorpe ward, a 22 bedded children’s
ward. A departmental training and seminar room is on Capener Ward.
The care of the elderly department in North Devon has evolved to meet the needs of a very elderly and rural
population over its lifetime. As a consequence the key needs have been stroke services and community care. We
are now addressing services for falls, bone health, orthogeriatrics and acute elderly care to ensure best care for
our frailest and most complex patients. In doing so we hope to prevent admission and re-admission, facilitate
discharge, optimise preventative interventions and minimise dependency across the district.
North Devon is a designated Cancer Unit with visiting Oncologists from the Royal Devon & Exeter Trust.
There is a dedicated Chemotherapy unit in the Hospital. Plans are being drawn up to expand this Unit and
develop the service for the next 5 years.
The X-ray Department has imaging facilities, which include a new spiral CT and MRI. Radiotherapy services
are sited at the Royal Devon & Exeter Trust. There is a fully equipped and dedicated Day Case Unit. The
Roborough Suite is a 10+ bedded private patient facility sited in the main hospital complex. Private
operating lists are available out of hours.
General Paediatrics
Eight consultants are based within this department. There are 2 Specialty Grades, 1 ST4, 3 ST3, 2 FTSTA 2/3
along with 2 STGP doctors and an F1. Caroline Thorpe Ward has 15 nominal beds, and 2 assessment beds,
which provides for all children in the DGH. A 2 bedded, staffed Paediatric High Dependency Unit opened in
2008. The current ward has the facility for the options of one 8-bedded, one 6-bedded bay, and 5 cubicles,
divided according to age and clinical needs of the children. There is a full time teacher and a ward school.
There is a ward playroom facility staffed by a qualified play leader, and a purpose built outdoor play area.
The paediatric outpatient suite is on the same floor and close to the Caroline Thorpe Paediatric ward and has
2 consulting rooms with its own paediatric waiting area and specially designed play facilities as well as a
nurse led investigation unit. General Paediatric Outpatient clinics are also held in peripheral clinics in
Bideford, South Molton, Holsworthy, and Ilfracombe. Specialist diabetic clinics also occur in these peripheral
hospitals.
Visiting specialists from Bristol Children’s Hospital, and Exeter conduct regular clinics in cardiology,
neurology, nephrology, urology, endocrinology, oncology and clinical genetics.
Paediatric intensive care is provided jointly with the anaesthetists in the general ITU on a short term basis.
There is close liaison with the PICU at Bristol Children’s Hospital, who offer a 24 hour retrieval service.
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