Elderly Care Consultant with Special Interest in Acute Geriatrics

NHS Jobs; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Dorchester is seeking an enthusiastic Elderly Care Consultant to enhance service development in the Department of Medicine for Older People. The candidate will focus on frailty management and collaborate closely with community partners, aiming to improve care pathways for emergency admissions and frail older adults. A flexible job plan and opportunities for development are available.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to service development in the Department of Medicine for Older People.
• Work in the new Frailty SDEC to assess referred frail older patients.
• Support the development of the Trust's frailty pathway.

Job description

Elderly Care Consultant with Special Interest in Acute Geriatrics

This position offers an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic consultant to contribute to service development in a friendly district general hospital located in a scenic part of England. The role is within the Department of Medicine for Older People (DMOP). The successful candidate will join senior medical staff in Medicine for Older People and Stroke, focusing on improving care for emergency admissions and frail older adults.

The Trust has collaborated with the Acute Frailty Network to enhance frailty management, including a fully integrated acute frailty unit with daily geriatrician ward rounds and multidisciplinary team reviews. A Frailty SDEC service provides rapid access appointments, medical falls reviews, and direct assessments of suitable ED patients. Geriatricians also support ward rounds in community hospitals and contribute to locality virtual wards, alongside providing an advice line for GPs, community frailty teams, and paramedics.

This role will support the ongoing development of the Trust's frailty pathway, working closely with Dorset HealthCare, our community partner. While primarily focused on front-door frailty services, there is scope to contribute to other services based on the post holder’s interests. The job plan will be flexible and reviewed periodically to suit individual strengths.

The Department of Medicine for Older People includes:

• A 38-bed frailty unit, the Mary Anning Unit, for acute geriatric inpatients, including beds for patients with dementia and complex discharge needs.
• A 23-bed acute and rehabilitation Stroke Unit.
• Eight dedicated beds in a local community hospital for stroke rehabilitation.
• An integrated acute frailty unit on the medical admissions ward with flexible bed numbers and weekday geriatrician ward rounds supported by a multidisciplinary team.

The new Frailty SDEC, opened in February 2025, is operated by acute practitioners and geriatricians, providing timely assessments for referred frail older patients from primary care, community settings, and the Emergency Department, facilitating investigations and early discharge.

Additional facilities include:

• Ten short-stay inpatient beds on the frailty unit.
• An established orthogeriatric liaison service for elderly trauma patients.
• Development of a liaison service for general surgery.
• A well-equipped medical admissions unit with rapid imaging and lab access.

The department promotes a team-based approach to patient care, with medical staff managing admissions under the supervision of a medical registrar and consultant. There is close collaboration between Acute Physicians and Medicine for Older People consultants. The department is involved in redesigning the emergency floor to optimize patient pathways, including increased use of Frailty SDEC. The post involves participation in the all-age medical take, with a frequency of 1 in 12 weekdays and 1 in 8 weekends.