Consultant Physician - Interest in Geriatric Medicine & Acute Frailty

TN United Kingdom; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Consultant Geriatrician to enhance the care of acutely ill medical patients. This full-time role at Maidstone Hospital offers the opportunity to develop the Acute Frailty service while collaborating with a team of experienced geriatricians. You will play a pivotal role in improving patient care, engaging in clinical governance, and contributing to educational activities. With a focus on quality improvement and patient satisfaction, this position promises a fulfilling career in a supportive environment, making a significant impact on the lives of older patients in the community.

Qualifications

• Broad experience in Geriatric Medicine is essential.
• ALS Instructor qualification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality care to patients under your clinical responsibility.
• Participate in clinical governance activities and audits.
• Collaborate with colleagues to deliver high-quality healthcare.

Skills

Geriatric Medicine

Clinical Governance

Quality Improvement Projects

Teaching

Risk Management

Education

MB BS or equivalent

GMC registration

MRCP or equivalent

Entry on GMC Specialist Register for Geriatrics

Job description

Job overview

This is a new post that forms part of the Trust’s commitment to improve the care of acutely ill medical patients. The post is based at Maidstone Hospital but may in future also include responsibilities at Tunbridge Wells Hospital or in a Community Geriatrics role. The primary roles are to help develop the Acute Frailty service on the Maidstone site and support the care of Geriatric in-patients. The successful candidate would be one of eighteen geriatricians within the Trust providing a comprehensive range of secondary medical care to older patients.

Although this is a full-time post, candidates wanting to work less than full-time or flexibly are welcomed.

Main duties of the job

The post is designed to improve the care of older medical patients, particularly at the beginning of an episode of illness, and improve the interface between Community Geriatrics and the Acute Trust in West Kent. It will provide 6.5 DPAs of geriatric medicine with 1 DPA allocated for out-of-hours GIM responsibilities and 2.5 SPAs, with the understanding that this will be reviewed as the successful candidate takes on educational supervision responsibilities, leadership, or research.

The successful applicant will work within a team of Consultant Geriatricians. There will be opportunities to work on the acute frailty unit based on Whatman ward, support outpatient work for the acute frailty service, and conduct post-discharge reviews.

Working for our organisation

The Trust was formed in April 2000 by merging the Mid Kent Healthcare Trust and the Kent & Sussex Weald NHS Trust. It provides general hospital services to a population of approximately 460,000 in West Kent and North East Sussex, along with some specialist services to a larger population.

The major hospitals are The Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury and The Maidstone Hospital in Kent’s County Town. The Trust’s Headquarters are at Maidstone Hospital. The Chairman is Dr Annette Doherty, the Chief Executive is Mr Miles Scott, and the Medical Director is Dr Sara Mumford. The Chief of Service for Medicine and Emergency Care is Dr Simon Webster. The Clinical Director for Acute & Geriatric Medicine is Dr Katy Davies, and the Clinical Lead for Care of the Elderly is Dr Owen Ingram.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To provide high-quality care to patients under your clinical responsibility.
• To participate in clinical and service developments to ensure high standards of patient care across the Trust.
• To collaborate with medical, professional, and managerial colleagues to deliver high-quality healthcare and contribute to the Trust’s strategic planning.
• To participate in clinical governance activities, including attending governance meetings unless on leave or emergencies.
• To engage in departmental audits and Quality Improvement Projects, leading audit activities and implementing changes.
• To participate in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
• To comply with GMC’s “Good Medical Practice” guidelines and the Duties of a Doctor.
• To take personal responsibility for risk management and review practices to learn from mistakes.
• To respond promptly to patient care complaints involving you or your staff.
• To develop and maintain effective relationships with health and social care agencies and patient representatives.
• To undertake annual job plan reviews as per Trust guidelines.
• To ensure health and safety at work, adhering to IRMER regulations.
• To contribute to developing clinical management protocols shared with community and colleagues.

Person specification

Qualifications

• MB BS or equivalent
• GMC registration
• MRCP or equivalent
• Entry on GMC Specialist Register for Geriatrics via CCT (with proposed CCT date within 6 months of interview), CESR, or European Rights
• Broad experience in Geriatric Medicine
• Distinctions, scholarships, prizes
• Additional degrees (e.g., BSc, MSc, MD, PhD)
• Sub-specialist interest aligned with current Consultant staff
• ALS Instructor qualification

Audit/QIP

• Understanding of audit and quality improvement principles
• Participation in audit projects

Research

• Understanding of scientific principles and literature interpretation
• Evidence of personal research and presentation