Locum Consultant in Gastroenterology

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Bedford; On-site; GBP 114,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Consultant Gastroenterologist for a 12-month fixed-term locum contract at the Bedford site. The role involves performing high-quality GI endoscopy, outpatient duties, and inpatient gastroenterology care, with on-call GI bleed cover on a 1:6 basis.

The appointee will join a well-established Gastroenterology Department, participate in teaching, governance, and development of new services, and contribute to educational programs while working

Qualifications

• Full GMC Registration with a licence to practice.
• Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register: CCT (or within 6 months of receipt of CCT at time of interview) or CESR (must be on Specialist Register at time of applying)
• MD or equivalent higher degree or evidence of relevant research.

Responsibilities

• To undertake high quality diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower GI endoscopy.
• To participate in high quality outpatient service delivery and patient administration.
• To manage Gastroenterology in-patients.
• To develop subspecialty interests and services as required.
• Attend and contribute to weekly multidisciplinary and governance meetings.

Skills

Endoscopy skills

Clinical leadership

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Communication skills

Education

Medical Degree

MD or equivalent higher degree

Job description

Main area Gastroenterology Grade Consultant Contract Fixed term: 12 months (12 month locum contract) Hours Full time - 10 sessions per week (1:6 GI Bleed on call commitment) Job ref 416-GM-Gastro-295

Site Bedford site Town Bedford Salary £113,565 - £150,569 Per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 13/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

We are looking for a Consultant Gastroenterologist for a period of 12 months.

The appointee will join the well-established Gastroenterology Department on the Bedford Hospital site to share with colleagues in the department the management of adult patients with gastrointestinal (GI) diseases referred to the Trust.

To work with colleagues in providing a 1:6 GI bleed on call commitment on the Bedford Site with the frequency decreasing based on our recruitment.

Main duties of the job

The main duties and responsibilities of the post include:-

• To undertake high quality diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower GI endoscopy.
• T o participate in the provision of a high quality out-patient service, including patient administration.
• To manage Gastroenterology in-patients
• To have a specialty interest and to develop service as require
• The post-holder will attend and actively participate in the weekly multidisciplinary meetings and weekly governance meetings
• Active participation in the management and development of the specialty and the introduction of new services
• Contribute to the educational programme, including departmental meetings and teaching.
• Act as the joint clinical supervisor for Specialist Trainees in Gastroenterology

Working for our organisation

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 available.

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.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

It is an exciting time to be joining Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust which resulted from the merger of Luton and Dunstable University Hospital and Bedford Hospital NHS Trusts in April 2020. Both hospitals have retained their identity with individual hospital names and key services remaining on both sites and be managed as single teams across the whole Bedfordshire catchment area.

Bedford:
We have completed one of our major redevelopment projects at Bedford hospital, to expand our Outpatients facilities within Cauldwell Centre. The expansion included an additional 34 rooms, which increased the overall number of Outpatients rooms from 19 to 53.

Within the Emergency Department work has been carried out to deliver nine additional beds, two extra paediatric cubicles, a two-story extension, two larger adult waiting areas and new reception. The previous space was converted to provide an isolation room, treatment rooms, mental health room and dedicated secure paediatric ED.

In addition, a brand new state of the art CT scanner has been installed within the Emergency Department to allow for rapid diagnostics and improvement to patient experience and care.

To allow the Trust to further develop and improve the Bedford site, we have also upgraded our electrical infrastructure to provide additional capacity and resilience across the site.

Person specification

Registration

• Full GMC Registration with a licence to practice
• Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register: CCT (or within 6 months of receipt of CCT at time of interview) or CESR (must be on Specialist Register at time of applying)

Qualifications

• Medical Degree
• MD or equivalent Higher Degree or evidence of relevant research

Clinical Experience

• Excellent all round experience of DGH work
• Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in Gastroenterology and General Medicine
• Able to take full and independent responsibility for clinical work and delivering service without direct supervision
• Endoscopy certification in line with JAG accreditation and evidence of ongoing competency in endoscopy including emergency therapeutic endoscopy
• Initiatives that demonstrate commitment to the assessment of patients with gastrointestinal disease
• Interest in subspecialty that would complement department

Clinical Effectiveness

• Understanding of clinical governance and ability to demonstrate ongoing CPD
• Experience of guideline appraisal
• Participation in relevant local audits
• Ability to interpret and apply clinical research
• Participation in relevant national audits
• Participation in quality improvement / service improvement projects

Teaching

• Knowledge and ability to teach all grades of trainees and medical students
• Has attended Teaching the Teachers or similar course

Personal Skills

• Good communication skills and multidisciplinary team working
• Able to adapt to fit with changing local circumstances and work flow
• Ability to co-operate in a democratic team environment
• Flexible attitude, team player with good management skills
• Leadership Skills
• Human Factors training

Clinical Governance

• Able to demonstrate a broad understanding of the principles and elements of clinical governance

Personal Circumstances

• Residence 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 clearance
• Satisfactory DBS clearance

It is an exciting time to join Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

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. 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.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name David Cox Job title General Manager Email address [e-mail] Additional information

All shortlisted applicants will be expected to visit the hospital prior to interview and to make arrangements to discuss the post. Additional appointments are recommended with other members of the Department and Trust.

Prior to shortlisting:

Dr Jacquelyn Harvey

Clinical Director for Gastroenterology

Mr David Cox

General Manager for General Surgery and Gastroenterology

After shortlisting:

Mr Paul Tisi

Medical Director

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Tel: [phone]

Mrs Pippa Nightingale

Chief Executive

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Tel: [phone]