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Job description

Applications are invited for the above full time locum post for this 660 bedded acute hospital serving a local population of approximately 400,000. The appointment will be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of service for the 2003 consultant contract (England).

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic consultant to join our progressive and energetic team in the Emergency Department in order to continue to deliver the highest quality care and maintain our position as one of the leading Emergency Departments in the East of England.

This post will facilitate on-going clinical leadership and input at a consultant level to the Emergency Department and enhance the care of patients with acute problems. The successful candidate will augment and complement our consultant capacity and skill mix, facilitate teaching for all grades, share development, management, and administration responsibilities. The Trust would welcome any appointee able to enhance the overall development of emergency care across the Trust in collaboration with other departments or specialities. Colleagues who have a sub specialty interest or accreditation will have the opportunity to continue this interest subject to negotiation. Two current consultants have dual accreditation – one in Intensive Care and one in Paediatric Emergency Medicine.

The Key tasks for the role of Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine are;

• Maintenance of the highest clinical standards in the management of all patients presenting to the Hospital.
• To deliver a high quality emergency medicine service.
• To share with colleagues the responsibility for the day-to-day management of all patients in the Emergency Department.
• To participate in the delivery of on-call.
• To participate in teaching and training of intermediate medical staff, junior medical staff, nursing staff, medical students and paramedical staff.
• To actively participate in both departmental and Trust matters concerning Clinical Governance and audit.
• To have responsibility for and actively participate in continuing professional development (CPD).

Our 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. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

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.

The ED sees over 110,000 cases per year – a further 52,000 are streamed from the front door to the adjacent GP led Urgent Clinic. Our proportion of minor illness is much lower than in many other ED’s, thus our incidence of pathology is proportionately higher. Around 25% of our workload is paediatric.

There are ongoing works to upgrade and rebuild parts of the hospital site, including redesigning an “Acute Services Block” and a large expansion of the ED due to complete in Summer 2023. There are also plans to build an on-site helipad.

The hospital command & control centre is within the ED and gives us opportunity to influence the Trust wide response to patient flow. The Emergency Admissions Unit and Same Day Emergency Care area is co-located within our footprint, and is staffed by Acute Physicians and on-call general physicians. This provides 7 day consultant physician presence and promotes effective collaboration with specialty teams. The department has access to all the equipment and resources you would expect in order to provide a high standard of Emergency Medicine.

The Department consists of 12 Consultants, 7 Specialty Doctors, 9 Specialty Trainees (ST3-6 level), 5 GPVTS, 3 ACCS, 4 FY2, and 27 Clinical Fellows (ST1-6 equivalent).

The pattern of work will cover duties on an annualised shift basis including weekends. The on calls will be shared amongst the Consultants – the rota provides internal cover for annual and study leave according to the RCEM guidelines. Specialty specific roles include:

• The clinical assessment, resuscitation and timely onward referral, admission or discharge of all types of patients attending the Emergency Department. Consultants are expected to be based on the shop floor when scheduled for DCC Programmed Activities.
• To provide professional and effective leadership and to be immediately available to give a Consultant opinion, guidance and advice on any patient seen in the Emergency Department when scheduled for clinical duty.
• To supervise junior ED medical staff during working hours.
• Share the clinical responsibility for the Emergency Department review clinics and management of Head Injured inpatients.

There will be a clear handover of clinical commitment to another consultant on those occasions where a consultant scheduled for DCC shift needs to attend a meeting, in order to pre-empt tensions between Direct Clinical Care (DCC) and Supporting Professional Activity (SPA).

The allocation of programmed activities will be based on 7.5 for direct clinical care and 1.5 for supporting professional activities. The detailed job plans will be agreed in consultation with the Clinical Director, with the approval of the Medical Director and Chief Executive or his/ her representative.

The job plans will be a prospective agreement that sets out a consultant’s duties, responsibilities and objectives for the coming year. It will cover all aspects of a consultant’s professional practice including clinical work, teaching, research, education and managerial responsibilities. It will provide a clear schedule of commitments, both internal and external. In addition, it will provide personal objectives, including details of links to wider service objectives, and details of the support required by the consultant to fulfil the job plan and the objectives.

The pattern of work may change in the future to meet local changing needs and annual review meetings will take place in line with the new Consultant Contract, job planning and appraisal arrangements.

The Luton and Dunstable University Hospital (L&D) has always been renowned for its friendly atmosphere and good working relationships. The Hospital has an excellent track record of financial and senior executive stability.

The Trust has University Hospital status which provides an academic environment to the hospital. In addition to postgraduate training, we welcome medical students from the UCL Medical School throughout the year and by arrangement with the medical school provide a programme of clinical placements to support their education. We have an excellent reputation for junior staff training. Within the Centre of Multi-Professional Educational & Training (COMET) is the Medical Education Department, the library including an IT suite, and the Training & Development Department. The main aim of the Medical Education Department is to promote postgraduate and continuing medical education and training for all doctors and dentists. The Hospital actively promotes career development and progression for all staff.

The Hospital has excellent access to the surrounding areas with easy access to central London and the rural Chilterns. The rural areas include many attractive villages and towns within easy reach of the Hospital including St Albans and Harpenden. Excellent schools are found nearby. There is also very good access to the Midlands and North by road using the M1 or A1, or by rail to one of the Luton’s three stations. A direct link using the new ‘Busway’ takes passengers from Luton Train station just 7 minutes to reach a stop that is within a short walking distance of the hospital. London Luton Airport is within fifteen minutes of the hospital.

Applicants must be fully registered on the UK General Medical Council’s Specialist Register and have MRCP. Specialist Registrars may apply if within 6 months of CCT.

Residence is required within ten miles by road or thirty minutes travelling time of the Hospital.

Candidates unable for personal reasons to work full-time are also invited to apply.

The appointment will be subject to full Occupational Health Clearance and Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for the successful candidates prior to commencement.

Please refer to the Job Description for full details of the post.