St Mary's

Trainees rotate through teaching and district general hospitals in north west London, as well as some specialist hospitals in central London

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St Mary's Hospital in Paddington was founded in 1851 from small philanthropic beginnings based on 'Christian and genteel values' in an area teeming with sailors and prostitutes at the time. It was one of the first London institutions to be conceived from the start as a teaching hospital with a medical school attached and has a rich medical history. The hospital boasts a profusion of famous clinicians and researchers including  Sir Alexander Fleming (Nobel Prize for the discovery of penicillin), Dr Rodney Porter (Nobel Prize for the structure of antibodies), Lord Ara Darzi, Health Minister, to name just three. There are also famous sporting alumni, Sir Roger Bannister, JPR Williams and Tuppy Owen-Smith as well as  future heirs to the Royal throne being born here.

In 2007, St Mary’s joined Charing Cross, the Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea hospitals to form Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and the UK’s first academic health science centre. As such it supports training for a very large group of medical students, researchers and fellows in many different sub-specialities with plenty of ongoing research.

St Mary’s is home to Lord Darzi’s Surgical Innovation Centre (SIC) receiving delegates from all over the world for training and education including robotic surgical techniques.  There is also a high fidelity simulation suite in the centre which focuses on both clinical and non technical skills training.

In 2010, St Mary’s became one of the first four Major Trauma Centres in the UK, covering the widest geographical area in London extending from the Watford area in the north to the M4 motorway in the west.

The anaesthetic service is delivered by a large team ranging from experienced consultants through to all grades of anaesthetic trainees well as ACCS and foundation year doctors. It is a very busy department covering both elective and emergency care for a diverse range of surgical specialities including obstetrics, paediatrics, major trauma, adult and paediatric intensive care.

In terms of anaesthetic training, the department provides experience in

  • Complex Vascular surgery including thoracic aneurysm repair
  • Emergency cardiothoracic surgery resulting from major trauma
  • Orthopaedic trauma including pelvic and spinal reconstruction surgery and Plastics reconstruction surgery
  • Paediatric surgery including anaesthesia for bone marrow transplantation for paediatric haematology patients and patient emergencies including PICU care
  • Obstetrics (average 4,500 deliveries/year including high risk patients)
  • Trauma related neurosurgery and maxillofacial reconstruction surgery
  • Upper and lower Gastrointestinal cancer surgery, Bariatric surgery
  • Ophthalmic surgery at the Western Eye hospital in Marylebone
  • Acute and Chronic pain service


The current medical spotlight at St. Mary’s has been on its Major Trauma and Emergency services, with anaesthesia playing a leading role within a multidisciplinary team. There are weekly Trauma meetings with case discussions and process development. The department has been instrumental in setting up the British Anaesthetic Trauma Society (BATS), a national society aimed at promoting high quality trauma care and education in this field.

Fellowships

There is currently a Chronic Pain fellowship which runs for 6 months to a year. Fellowships in Major Trauma, Vascular Anaesthesia and advanced Obstetric Anaesthesia are currently in development.

On-calls and Teaching

On-calls are busy due to the hospital being a Major Trauma Centre. They are comprehensively covered with a junior anaesthetic trainee, 2 senior trainees (one for obstetrics, a senior anaesthetic registrar level trainee to cover major trauma and theatres) and separate ITU trainees as well as 2 consultants for adult care, 1 for paediatric care and 1 consultant for adult intensive care.

There are excellent direct clinical educational opportunities, as well as formal teaching session including regular biweekly lectures (protected), workshops (advanced airway, trauma) and simulation (obstetrics, trauma, vascular and paediatrics).  There is also plenty support for the preparation of both the FRCA written and viva exams. Trainees also have opportunity for clinically based research projects, audit projects as well as gaining management skills.

The department currently has active members within the AAGBI, including the current President and past honorary secretary. 

Audit Lead: Dr Jeavon Hood

St Mary\'s

Praed Street, Paddington, London W2 1NY
Dept 020 7886 6426 Fax 020 7886 6360 Switch 020 7886 6666
College Tutors Rachel Bartlett, Justine Lowe
Department Admin Aileen Dowden
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