Job overview
Applications are invited for a full time (10 PA) Consultant in Acute & General Medicine, based at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust. This is a substantive post and the appointment will be made in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of Service for Consultants (2003).
The successful candidate will join our rapid evolving and exciting acute and general medical service at Bedford Hospital, which is part of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
You must be dedicated to providing high quality clinical care, maintaining clinical standards, and continually looking to drive positive change by developing the service.
This post will work with colleagues to cover the Acute Medical Unit and the adjoining Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service, covering the SDEC inpatient clinic returns and referral reviews in SDEC Assessment area. The appointee may have to cover a General Medical Ward depending on service need. They will participate in an integrated on call medical rota which currently sits at 1 in 16 but may be subject to change in line with the 7 day working provision.
Innovation in the delivery of general medical care is a key requirement of this role.
Main duties of the job
The key duties for the Consultant role include (but are not limited to):
1. To provide the Acute Medicine Services in conjunction with consultant colleagues.
2. To carry out post take rounds, other ward rounds as necessary, outpatient clinics and hospital consultations.
3. To supervise junior medical staff.
4. To participate in the Multidisciplinary Team meetings where appropriate.
5. To develop an agreed sub-specialty interest as agreed with the Trust and dependent on this being in keeping with the Trust’s strategic plans.
6. To participate in the management of the service.
7. To contribute to both postgraduate and undergraduate teaching and education.
8. To actively participate in both departmental and Trust matters concerning Clinical Governance and audit.
9. To have responsibility for and actively participate in continuing professional development (CPD).
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Department of Acute Medicine at Bedford Hospital is innovative and forward thinking, providing a fully integrated acute medical service. The Acute Medicine Unit was formally set up in Feb 2010 and is continuing to evolve. We take all direct admissions from General Practitioners, as well as the vast majority of medical referrals from A&E and SDEC.
The post-holder will work with five acute physicians and the AAU team to further develop and manage acute medical services (which comprise Acute Medicine Unit, Same Day Emergency Care Unit SDEC and Whitbread ward which is our Short Stay Unit) for an increasing number of emergency admissions and wide experience in Acute General Medicine is therefore essential.
The AAU is currently a 30 bedded unit which can accommodate an extra 4-6 patients in times of bed pressure.
The appointee will provide consultant level cover in the acute medicine service and will share consultant responsibility for immediate review of medical admissions, closely supervising the junior medical staff admitting emergency patients.
The five acute physicians collaborate closely to provide cover for the AAU from 08:30 to 17:00h, from Monday to Friday. In order to provide 12 hour Consultant presence on the AAU, the evening (17:00 to 20:30) sessions and weekends (08.30 to 20:30) are supported by a combination of specialty, care of the elderly and acute physicians who have the responsibility for seeing all the new patients during this time and to review any unwell patients on the unit or on the wards. The Acute Physicians provide a morning daily post take round and review patients on AAU and Whitbread ward on an on-going basis.
We have acute medicine review clinic which is currently run thrice a week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons) where patients discharged from AAU are reviewed within a few days/weeks of discharge with the plan to further extend. This post will participate in covering the SDEC returns clinics, SDEC and the AAU clinics.
We aim to develop a ‘Hot Clinic’ service both as a means of initial admission avoidance and to review patients who can be discharged pending investigation.
There are usually three Registrars, six junior doctors (FY1 and/ or ACCS) and three Physician Assistants in Acute Medicine. All Medical rotas are fully compliant with EWTD and the 2016 Junior Doctor Contract rota and rest rules.
The successful applicant will work with existing staff in other disciplines to provide multidisciplinary assessment for patients referred to the AAU/SDEC and will develop collaborative arrangements with primary care to facilitate both admission avoidance and early discharge. Another key relationship will be with colleagues in the Emergency Department to develop common pathways and avoid any duplication of work
Outpatient duties will be flexible and due consideration will be given to applicant’s specialist interest, if any. We expect the applicant to do 2 clinics a week which could be a mix of GIM and specialty clinics. The current clinic template is 30 minutes for new patients and 15 minutes for follow ups.
The pattern of work may change in the future to meet local changing needs and annual review meetings will take place in line with any new Consultant Contract, job planning and appraisal arrangements.
Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Please note that all shortlisted candidates will be required to attend a virtual pre-interview assessment process.
Advert Closing Date: 17.04.2024
Assessment Date: 01.05.2024
Interview Date: 10.05.2024
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
10. Medical Degree
11. MRCP or equivalent
Desirable criteria
12. MD or equivalent Higher Degree or evidence of relevant research
Registration
Essential criteria
13. Full GMC Registration with a licence to practice
14. Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register via CCT (or within 6 months of receipt of CCT at time of interview) or CESR (must be on Specialist Register at time of applying)
Clinical effectiveness
Essential criteria
15. Understanding of clinical governance and ability to demonstrate ongoing CPD
16. Participation in relevant local audits
17. Experience of guideline appraisal
18. Ability to interpret and apply clinical research
Desirable criteria
19. Participation in relevant national audits
Clinical Governance
Essential criteria
20. Able to demonstrate a broad understanding of the principles and elements of clinical governance
Experience
Essential criteria
21. Excellent all round experience of DGH work
22. Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in General/Acute Medicine
23. Able to take full and independent responsibility for clinical work and delivering service without direct supervision.
Teaching
Essential criteria
24. Knowledge and ability to teach all grades of trainees and medical students
Desirable criteria
25. Has attended Teaching the Teachers or similar course
Personal skills
Essential criteria
26. Flexible attitude, team player with good management skills
27. Leadership skills
28. Ability to co-operate in a democratic team environment
Personal Circumstances
Essential criteria
29. Residence within 10 miles by road or up to thirty minutes travelling time of the hospital for purposes of on-call emergencies
30. Fit to undertake the role with satisfactory Occupational Health clearance
31. Satisfactory DBS clearance
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.