Consultant in Acute Medicine
The closing date is 12 April 2026
An opportunity has arisen to join our team at Colchester Hospital in the Medicine (Colchester). We are inviting applications for a full time Consultant in Acute Medicine. Applicants will have completed CCT or equivalent (CESR) and must be on the Specialist Register.
This consultant expansion is primarily to further develop acute medical services at Colchester. Having specialist experience and skills to bring into the Department is helpful – different expertise supports safe, high quality, prompt, decisive care, education and training and rational use of resources for our patients. We feel strongly that the expansion of our AMSDEC stream, working seamlessly with ED, Care of the Elderly, diagnostics and other specialities is a key priority for Acute Medicine here at Colchester, to help provide the top-notch care our patients deserve.
This post is advertised as 11.5 PAs however, will be reduced appropriately for someone wishing to work 10 PAs, maintaining at least 1.5–2 SPA.
Main duties of the job
* Clinical and administrative responsibility for the proper functioning of the Emergency Assessment Unit. Organise medical admissions through the Emergency Assessment Unit, assigning patients for continuing inpatient care, short‑stay beds on the Unit or discharging from the EAU directly.
* Develop joint protocols for the management of emergency medical admissions with the nursing team and clinical colleagues.
* Develop standards, procedures and robust systems on the EAU to ensure safe, high quality and efficient patient care from entry onto the EAU to admission or discharge from the EAU.
* Agree and ensure clear processes for handover and specialty triage from the EAU.
* Supervise junior medical staff in the Unit who will have the opportunity to learn on a one‑to‑one basis on both formal and informal ward rounds and also on an ad‑hoc basis throughout the day.
* Have an active role in educational programmes for junior medical staff, including formal teaching sessions and clinical audits relevant to the needs of the Assessment Unit.
* Teach and train staff in other medical disciplines, nursing and support staff as appropriate.
* Issue advice to GPs on suitability of patients for admission to hospital.
About us
We are ESNEFT and we 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. Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We have invested in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with the leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation has brought what is widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here – video link
Job responsibilities
All consultants in the department have a continuing and individual responsibility for the care of patients in their charge and a general responsibility to provide, in conjunction with their colleagues, an effective Service to meet the needs of the local population within the resources available.
The post‑holder will:
* Work with colleagues to provide a consultant‑led service with the highest standard of care.
* Work with the multi‑professional team to develop care pathways and clinical guidelines.
* Develop and maintain good working practices within wards, outpatients and A&E.
* Collaborate and promote close working links with colleagues in tertiary centres, community services and primary care.
* Offer support and leadership to junior medical colleagues, nursing colleagues and other members of the multi‑disciplinary team.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Full registration with the General Medical Council with a licence to practice.
* CCT in G(I)M with sub‑specialty training in acute medicine (or equivalent).
* Entry onto the Specialist Register or a UK SpR within 6 months of CCT date at interview.
Experience
* Broad experience in general Acute Medicine.
* Fully competent in invasive procedures used on the medical take.
* Evidence of having undertaken audit work that has brought about change.
* Evidence of having undertaken original research.
* Active and current interest in Acute Medicine research.
Skills
* Ability to lead and work as part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
* Good written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with patients, colleagues and all levels of staff.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
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