Overview
A Vacancy at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust. Offers are open for an enthusiastic and passionate candidate to join the department of Older People’s Medicine at Ipswich Hospital, part of East Suffolk and North East Essex foundation trust as a substantive consultant. Full time, part time and flexible working opportunities will be considered. It is an exciting time to join the trust as we plan the roll out of Epic – our new electronic health record in 2025.
This forward thinking and innovative department is developing services that begin in the heart of the community. We care for patients in their home using the virtual ward, and through the whole span of their journey within the acute hospital - from specialist assessment in the emergency department to seamless specialist care in our frailty assessment base. A truly patient-centred care model which is underpinned by expertise in specialist geriatric assessment.
There has never been a more exciting time to join our team and work with us to develop services to meet the needs of our older population, enabling them to age well and with dignity in an ever-changing landscape. We don’t believe in always doing the same things and we welcome individuals who can bring new ideas and thoughts to the table.
Our Enhanced Welcome package includes an additional £12,000 and relocation costs to thank you for choosing to work at our trust and your new journey with ESNEFT.
The successful candidate will run ward rounds on our virtual ward supported by a Staff Grade doctor or SpR. The post holder may act as the clinical supervisor for the junior team. This will involve a daily consultant led board round on an online platform (TEAMS). The post holder will be expected to provide appropriate clinical leadership to the progressive, innovative multidisciplinary ward team.
Responsibilities
* Conduct ward rounds on the virtual ward with support from a Staff Grade doctor or SpR.
* Act as clinical supervisor for junior team members when applicable.
* Lead a daily consultant-led board round via TEAMS and provide clinical leadership to the multidisciplinary ward team.
* Carry scheduled time in the Emergency Department as part of the FIT team, performing frailty assessments of patients at the front door.
* Facilitate patient flow to FAB or other services; cover 2 sessions per week, with timetable adjustments as cross-cover is included in PA calculations.
* Support REACT services with clinical expertise linked to community Dementia Intensive Support Team, social services and the Red Cross to manage short-term deterioration in health and function.
* Hold the “hot phone” during frailty/front door duties to advise GPs or community therapists and book same/next-day FAB assessments as needed.
* Assist with direct transfers from ED for comprehensive/specialist assessment before discharge, with some appointments reserved for these when required.
* Option to join the general medicine on-call rota (1 in 8 weekends, 12-hour EAU shifts, on-call from home overnight if needed) with junior team and Hospital at Night support.
* Contribute to the GLINT initiative (Geriatric Liaison to the Integrated Neighbourhood Teams) to move falls assessments into local teams with consultant support.
* Welcome candidates with sub-specialist skills (e.g., onco-geriatrics, orthopaedic liaison, virtual ward community experience) and negotiate timetable time to develop these areas where possible.
About ESNEFT and Benefits
We are ESNEFT and provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes. We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. We offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offers a variety of services. Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone, focusing on reducing time delays for staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with Epic, bringing one of the world’s best electronic patient record systems to ESNEFT to transform hospital life for staff and patients.
How to Apply and Closing Date
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
This post can include a slot on the general medicine on-call rota. Details:
* 1 in 8 weekends – 1 day only, 12-hour EAU shift reviewing acutely admitted patients, with overnight availability from home if needed.
* Supported by an acute on-call junior team and 2 medical SpRs during the day and Hospital at Night overnight.
The GLINT initiative is being developed to enhance local falls assessments with consultant support.
This advert closes on Friday 27 Feb 2026.
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