Anaesthetist and ICU locum shifts: what hospitals look for

Anaesthesia and intensive care are two of the hardest rotas for a hospital to keep full. A theatre list cannot start without an anaesthetist, and an ICU cannot run a night short. That is why they are two of the four roles MeddStaff supports. Here is what hospitals look for, and how to make your applications count.

What these shifts look like

• Anaesthetist: elective and emergency theatre lists, obstetric cover and nights on call.
• ICU intensivist: night and weekend ICU cover, ventilated and critically ill patients, and admissions from the emergency department.

Each shift has a fixed start and end time, and the pay is agreed before you apply.

What hospitals look for

• The right qualification. Hospitals can ask for a qualification level and specialty when they post, for example a PG qualification in Anaesthesiology, or critical-care experience for ICU.
• Verified documents. Every profile on MeddStaff is verified before it can apply, so hospitals start from a trusted shortlist.
• Relevant fellowships. Fellowships such as intensive care medicine, cardiac anaesthesia or obstetric anaesthesia show depth in the areas a shift needs.
• Reliability. MeddStaff tracks reliability to help hospitals choose, and cancelling within six hours of a shift can affect your reputation.

How to stand out

1. Complete your profile. List every qualification and fellowship, with certificates, so you match every shift you are eligible for.
2. Keep your availability current. Hospitals can only book you in the hours you mark as free.
3. Apply early. Urgent shifts fill fast, so turn on notifications and apply when a shift fits.
4. Build a track record. After each completed booking the hospital can rate you, and good ratings help with the next shift.

See the anaesthetist shifts and ICU intensivist shifts open right now, or check which documents to upload before you start.