Overview
Applications are invited for a full-time (10 PA) Locum Consultant in Spinal Surgery to join the dynamic and enthusiastic team at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This role is primarily based at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, with some clinical sessions at Bedford Hospital. The spinal surgery team is expanding to three Consultants, supported by a dedicated spinal coordinator and middle-grade doctors on spinal rotation. The team provides comprehensive spinal care including elective spinal surgery, outpatient clinics, and diagnostic and therapeutic spinal injections. There will be regular outpatient clinics at each site, weekly spinal theatre lists, and participation in the weekly spinal MDT. The successful applicant will participate in general trauma duties within the department (trauma surgery, fracture clinic and on call). The role includes teaching and training intermediate grade and junior medical staff, nursing staff, and medical students. A protected off-timetable day per week, as well as SPA and clinical administration time, is provided. This is an exciting time to join the Spinal Surgery team as we build on good practice to develop the Trust\'s strategy for excellence in spinal care and to make a significant impact on patient care and career development in a collaborative setting.
Responsibilities
* Maintain the highest clinical standards in the management of all Trauma & Orthopaedic and Spinal surgery patients.
* Share the management of Trauma & Orthopaedic patients requiring admission with colleagues in the Trauma & Orthopaedic Departments.
* Perform general on-call and trauma commitments as well as specialist spinal surgical management.
* Undertake regular outpatient clinics at Luton and Dunstable Hospital and Bedford Hospital; participate in the weekly spinal MDT; undertake regular elective spinal surgery lists.
* Provide specialist spinal advice and guidance to other specialties for both outpatients and inpatients, accepting referrals where there is a realistic expectation of a surgical target.
* Teach and train intermediate grade and junior medical staff, nursing staff, and medical students.
* Actively participate in departmental and Trust matters concerning Clinical Governance and audit; take responsibility for continuing professional development (CPD).
* Undertake elective clinics, fracture clinics, and virtual fracture clinics.
* Undertake regular elective spinal surgery lists and perform diagnostic and therapeutic spinal injections.
* Conduct non-paediatric spinal procedures such as lumbar discectomy, posterior decompression, fusion procedures (up to two levels), and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (single or two-level); note that paediatric spinal surgery and spinal deformity surgery are not within scope for this post.
* Engage in triage and mentoring activities to streamline elective referrals.
* Participate in the weekly spinal MDT and coordinate joint working between sites, including scheduling clinical sessions at Bedford Hospital as part of the merged organisation.
* Ensure weekly work commitments comply with Working Time Regulations and relevant guidance in the Job Plan.
* Support mentorship and professional development through a local mentoring program for new Consultants.
* Promote team spirit and maintain open discussion of clinical issues in formal and informal settings.
Qualifications/Experience
* Experience in Trauma & Orthopaedics with an interest in Spinal Surgery; able to manage Trauma & Orthopaedic patients requiring admission and perform general on-call duties alongside specialist spinal surgical management.
* Ability to undertake regular outpatient clinics and contribute to the joint working strategy of the unit.
* Willingness to participate in Clinical Governance, audit, CPD, and teaching responsibilities.
Additional Information
* Travel between hospital sites may be required.
* All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering the first six months in post.
* Vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when a sufficient number of applications have been received; please apply promptly.
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