Locum Consultant in Emergency Medicine

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Watford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust invites applications for a Locum Consultant in Emergency Medicine to join a dynamic team at Watford General Hospital. The post offers opportunities to lead care pathways, pursue specialist interests, and engage with a supportive leadership programme.

Successful candidates will work within a 13-EM Consultant department, with scope for dual accreditation, flexible working options, and funding support for relevant postgraduate education.

Qualifications

• MBBS/MBChB or equivalent primary medical qualification.
• Full GMC registration with a licence to practise; entry on the GMC Specialist Register in Emergency Medicine.
• FRCEM or equivalent specialist qualification; higher degree, postgraduate qualification, or qualification in education, leadership, management or quality improvement.
• Minimum three years' experience at consultant level or equivalent in Emergency Medicine, or remotely covering urgent care services within a busy acute hospital.
• Advanced knowledge of Emergency Medicine and urgent and emergency care pathways; ability to assess clinical risk and make safe decisions using incomplete or remotely obtained information.
• CPD evidence and readiness to meet appraisal and revalidation requirements.
• Knowledge of patient safety, clinical governance, consent, confidentiality, safeguarding and contemporaneous documentation; understanding of shared decision-making and person-centred care.
• Knowledge of integrated care, care coordination or single-point-of-access models; knowledge of acute, ambulatory, community and virtual alternatives to hospital admission.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Urgent Care pathway and be an active member of the Care Pathway Group (CPG) in collaboration with Royal Free Hospital.
• Engage in developing a job plan to support work-life balance and flexible working where possible.
• Opportunity to enrol in the Trust Clinical Leadership programme and to obtain funding for relevant postgraduate education (e.g., Masters in Medical Education/Sports Medicine/Public Health).
• Work as part of a large EM Consultant team with opportunities for academic activities and teaching.
• Pattern of work includes full-time 10 PA appointments with LTFT options; weekend duties and on-call rota as per RCEM guidelines.
• Annualised self-rostering for consultants and middle grade doctors planned in the future.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Decision making

Communication

Teamwork

Education

MBBS/MBChB

GMC registration

FRCEM or equivalent

Higher degree/leadership/education/quality improvement

Job description

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Locum Consultant in Emergency Medicine

The closing date is 17 November 2026

Applications are invited for the above posts to commence as soon as possible at Watford General Hospital. WHHT has taken the decision to invest in Emergency Medicine, leading to the creation of new consultant posts. Successful applicants will be working as part of well-integrated and highly motivated Consultant team and will be given the opportunity to develop a job plan which will allow work-life balance to be maintained.

Main duties of the job

Each successful applicant will be supported to pursue an area of specialist interest (dual accredited applicants are welcome).

There will be scope for the successful candidates to engage in leading the Urgent Care pathway, as well as be an active member of the CPG (Care pathway group in collaboration with Royal Free Hospital).

Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to enrol in the Trust Clinical Leadership programme. Other opportunities available include funding support in pursuing relevant Post Graduate education (e.g., Master's in Medical Education/Sports Medicine/Public Health).

About us

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imaging models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

We are a flexible working employer at West Herts we recognise the importance of a good work life balance and the ability to work flexibly. We are delighted to offer a variety of flexible working options for all staff.

https://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking/We encourage and welcome people with disabilities. If you need help, please ask.

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants.

Job responsibilities

The Department consists of 13 EM Consultants, 2 Paediatric EM Consultants, 1 Paediatrician, 6x Specialty Trainees (ST3-6 level), 9 x Senior Clinical Fellows at middle-grade level, 3x ST3 (DREEM) Trainees, 1 x ACCS, 22x GPVTS and FY2, and 10x Junior Clinical Fellows at SHO level. In addition, there are 3 ANPs and 2 Trainee ANPs supervised by our Nurse Consultant.

These posts are offered as full-time 10 PA appointments although applicants who, for domestic, personal, or other reasons require LTFT working are also encouraged to apply.

The pattern of work will cover duties on a shift basis including weekends. The on calls will be shared amongst the EM Consultants the rota provides internal cover for annual, and study leave according to RCEM guidelines.

Annualised self-rostering for consultants and middle grade doctors is planned in the future.

Person Specification

• MBBS, MBChB or equivalent primary medical qualification;
• Full GMC registration with a licence to practise; entry on the GMC Specialist Register in Emergency Medicine;
• Minimum three years' experience at consultant level or equivalent in Emergency Medicine, or remotely covering urgent care services within a busy acute hospital
• Evidence of CPD and readiness to meet appraisal and revalidation requirements.
• Advanced knowledge of Emergency Medicine and urgent and emergency care pathways; ability to assess clinical risk and make safe decisions using incomplete or remotely obtained information;
• Understanding of patient safety, clinical governance, consent, confidentiality, safeguarding and contemporaneous documentation; understanding of shared decision-making and person-centred care.
• FRCEM or equivalent specialist qualification; higher degree, postgraduate qualification, or qualification in education, leadership, management or quality improvement.
• Knowledge of integrated care, care coordination or single-point-of-access models; knowledge of acute, ambulatory, community and virtual alternatives to hospital admission.

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.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust