For professionals

Learning and Development 

Training 

We are committed to the provision of outstanding paediatric anaesthetic teaching and training. All anaesthetic trainees from the Mersey Deanery attend Alder Hey for their stage 2 / stage 3 paediatric anaesthetic rotations. We currently take 16 specialty trainees for 3 or 6 month attachments and host senior core trainees for a 2 week taster.

We offer 6 clinical fellowships per year, 2 of which are offered to international candidates. We are also able to offer one of our fellowships as a cardiac specialist post focused on cardiac surgery and interventional cardiac catheter procedures—this is offered based on the suitability of applicants at the time of interview. 

Fellowships are 1 year long; fellows will spend 9 months in theatre, with the remaining time divided between a 6-week block in paediatric intensive care and a further 6 weeks working with the North West and North Wales Paediatric Transport Service (NWTS). Fellows undertake 1st on call duties on the specialist trainee rota during the week and at the weekend form a separate higher fellow rota. It is also possible to arrange a clinical observer-ship placement.

Every year, there are 2 places available for final year medical students from the University of Liverpool to undertake a SAMP (Selective in Advanced Medical Practice) in paediatric anaesthesia. During this placement, students will be given insight into the work of a paediatric anaesthetist, and they will gain a range of practical skills such as airway management and vascular access. Undergraduates will be expected to keep a logbook, undertake a SAMP project, and complete a written report as part of their placement assessment.

For our in-house trainees, we run regular half-day protected teaching sessions on various anaesthetic topics. There is also weekly hands-on ultrasound teaching prior to lists starting in the morning. Stage 3 Special Interest Area trainees and Clinical Fellows are also expected to attend full-day regional teaching for “Advanced trainees”—this is run in conjunction with Manchester, Leeds and other Northern Children’s hospitals.  

Courses 

Our department runs the Alder Hey Paediatric Difficult Airways course, as well as an Ultrasound for Paediatric Anaesthesia course (includes ultrasound for regional anaesthesia, vascular access, airway & gastric assessments). Both courses are held twice a year. They are open to interested candidates from other hospitals and departments.

Please email [email protected] or call on 0151 252 5223 for course dates, fees and booking details.