Consultant in Rheumatology

National health service; Honiton; On-site; GBP 114,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Consultant in Rheumatology to join a well-established department of eight consultants. The appointee will augment capacity and drive a comprehensive rheumatology service, with opportunity for sub-specialty interest and involvement in teaching, audit and research.

You'll work with consultants, attend weekly meetings, support registrars and junior staff, and contribute to clinical governance and national standards comparisons.

Qualifications

• Essential: medical degree; MRCP or equivalent.
• Desirable: MD or higher degree; evidence of relevant research.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialty rheumatology advice and support to patients within the Trust.
• Attend weekly departmental and X-ray meetings; train registrars and junior medical staff.

Skills

DGH experience

Rheumatology

Teaching

Audit

Research

Education

MRCP or equivalent

MD or higher degree

Job description

Job summary

The appointee will join the well-established department of eight existing consultants in rheumatology. The successful candidate will augment and complement the consultant capacity, to help drive forwards the department's vision of a comprehensive rheumatology service. Sub-specialty interest in any area appropriate for a DGH (such as vasculitis, bone health or axial spondyloarthritis) is welcomed, as is an enthusiasm for teaching, audit and research.

Main duties of the job

The post holders will work with the other Consultants to provide specialty rheumatology advice and support to patients within the Trust. They will attend the weekly multi-disciplinary departmental meetings and weekly X-ray meetings, and will be expected to help support and train the registrars and other junior medical staff in rheumatology/general medicine, and the Clinical Nurse Specialists. Where possible, the post-holder will be encouraged to develop a research interest, compatible with the background of the department and its facilities. Audit will be a mandatory part of the role. The Rheumatology Directorate has close links with local General Practitioners and there is an active teaching program for them, and also for all grades of doctors within the Trust. The post holder will be encouraged to continue teaching and training at all levels. Clinical Governance and Audit projects are undertaken as an ongoing programme within the department of Rheumatology - examining local practice compared to National Standards of care (for example use of biologic therapy, DAS scoring, early arthritis pathways and comparison to BSR Standards) - and Trust-wide. It is expected that the appointee will be actively involved in this.

Person Specification

• EssentialMedical DegreeRelevant postgraduate qualification MRCP or equivalent
• DesirableMD or equivalent Higher Degree or evidence of relevant research
• Registration EssentialFull GMC Registration (GMC Licence to Practice is mandatory before employment commences)Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register: ?CCT (or within 6 months of receipt of CCT at time of interview) ?CESR - portfolio pathway (must be on Specialist Register at time of applying)
• Personal Circumstances EssentialResidence within 10 miles by road or up to thirty minutes travelling time of the hospital for purposes of on-call emergencies.Fit to undertake the role with satisfactory Occupational Health clearanceSatisfactory DBS clearance
• Clinical Experience EssentialExcellent all round experience of DGH workEvidence of thorough and broad training and experience in RheumatologyAble to take full and independent responsibility for clinical work and delivering service without direct supervision.
• DesirableSpecialist interest in axSpA Clinical Effectiveness EssentialUnderstanding of clinical governance and ability to demonstrate ongoing CPDExperience of guideline appraisalParticipation in relevant local auditsAbility to interpret and apply clinical researchDesirableParticipation in relevant national audits
• Teaching EssentialKnowledge and ability to teach all grades of trainees and medical studentsDesirableHas attended Teaching the Teachers or similar course
• Personal Skills EssentialAbility to co-operate in a democratic team environmentFlexible attitude, team player with good management skills
• Leadership Skills Clinical Governance EssentialAble to demonstrate a broad understanding of the principles and elements of clinical governance.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 Apr 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found at Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Zone TTravelodge, 641 Dunstable Road Luton LU4 8RQ United Kingdom

Employer's website

About us

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. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.

Our Values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment.

We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Details

Date posted23 October 2026

Pay scheme Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade Consultant

Salary 113,565 to 150,569 a year

Contract Permanent

Working pattern Full-time

Reference number418-M-RHEU-544-A

Job locations Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Zone TTravelodge, 641 Dunstable Road Luton LU4 8RQ United Kingdom