Trainee Roles and Responsibilities On Call - HH

Team work and the team

The most important message is that the 9008, 9007 and 9313 bleep holders should work as a team. All members should be aware of the workload for anaesthesia and critical care as a whole at any one time in the hospital in order to best support each other in sharing the workload. This will also ensure that no calls go unanswered and that if one member is busy, subsequent calls are handled by others. Communication is key, and a “team huddle” after handover at the beginning of any shift to share information about what is going on in the various areas of the critical care units, theatre, cath lab etc is expected

The following roles are guidelines and provided for clarity about first responders, so that we all know who MUST go to what.

  • obviously if the other bleep holders are free, they should go to help and support.
  • If you are busy, let your colleagues know so that that they can cover your normal first responder bleep.
  • This is not set in stone, and supporting each other to care for the patients who need our services is the key. We do not want a situation where one member of the team is run ragged, and the others are in the coffee room….!
  • IF IN DOUBT DISCUSS with the consultant on call ASAP


    Bleep 9008 (1 in 8)

    • Responsible for attending GICU ward rounds and clinical decision making and supporting the resident on the GICU, and expected to be rapidly available to the unit unless attending an urgent call.
    • Normal working day during the week, anaesthetist MUST attend the GICU ward round at 5.00 if taking over 9008 for the evening..
    • Responsible for attending and assessing patients on the ward referred for ICU opinions and ICU outreach
    • Attending cardiac arrests and medical emergency calls everywhere EXCEPT the cath lab.
    • Overseeing and organising the management of ICU patients being cared for in theatre whilst awaiting an ICU bed.

    Bleep 9007 (1 in 8)

    • Carried by an anaesthetist in theatres (doubled up on a list) during normal working hours. After hours and at the weekend by the CICU SpR.
    • Handed to the CICU long day SpR around 6 at the end of the working day
    • Responsible for attending CICU ward rounds and clinical decision making and supporting the resident on the CICU, and expected to be rapidly available to the unit unless attending an urgent call.
    • Supports the SHO in theatres
    • First responder to the cath lab emergencies and PCI

    Bleep 9313 (1in 8)

    • Takes all calls relating to emergency theatre work and should pre-assess patients in the first instance and organise the emergency theatre work load with the surgeons/theatre team
    • Attends all cardiac arrests anywhere in the hospital including cath lab
    • Assists in caring for ventilated patients in theatre