Specialty Doctor in Elderly Medicine

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Luton; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking an enthusiastic Specialty Doctor to join the Elderly Medicine Department. This role requires substantial clinical experience in Elderly Medicine, the ability to work independently, and excellent communication skills. As part of a supportive team, you will provide senior-level care, engage in ward rounds, and contribute to departmental meetings. Ideal candidates will have a Medical Degree and MRCP certification. Join a leading Trust committed to high-quality training and patient care.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years post-graduate clinical experience with minimum of 2 years in Elderly Medicine.
• Understanding of audits and experience of conducting them.
• Capacity to organise oneself and prioritise work.

Responsibilities

• Provide a senior level of support to the department.
• Attend ward rounds with the Consultants and Specialty Training Doctors.
• Communicate with patients and multidisciplinary team members.

Skills

Excellent all round experience of DGH work

Ability to work independently

Team player with good management skills

Up-to-date ALS

Education

Medical Degree

Full MRCP

Job description

Specialty Doctor in Elderly Medicine

The closing date is 16 December 2025

We are looking for an enthusiastic Specialty doctor to join our Elderly Medicine Department within Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Specialty Doctor will work under the supervision of and be responsible to the Clinical Director for Elderly Medicine.

The Department of Elderly Medicine at Luton is supported by 15 WTE Consultants, 8 Specialty Doctors and their junior teams. Significant investment has occurred in DME over the last five years that reflects the valued contribution of the DME service to the management of frail, complex and vulnerable patients.

There are 5 'base' DME wards: wards 14, 15, 18, 19F (Frailty unit) and 19R (rehab) as well as ward 23 (Orthogeriatrics), with a total of 134 inpatient beds. Within the Bedford site there are 4 inpatient wards in addition to the Archer Unit rehabilitation centre totaling 19 patients.

The team are supported by Nurse Specialists in Dementia, Falls and Frailty.

There are specialist OPD in Falls, Syncope and Parkinson's supported by specialist nurses.

Each of the DME consultants have additional lead responsibilities: Dementia/ delirium lead; Falls lead; Frailty lead; Audit lead; Governance lead; Educational lead; Movement disorders service lead. We have a well-established Clinical Ethics Committee.

We have developed a successful Orthogeriatric model of care and with the support of our colleagues in the Surgical Division, have a fully established Surgical Liaison service.

Main duties of the job

Be required to provide a senior level of support to the department.

Attend ward & board rounds both with the Consultants and with the Specialty Training Doctors / Foundation Year 2 doctors. The Specialty Doctor may be responsible for unaccompanied ward rounds.

Work under the supervision of and be responsible to his/her respective consultant, or the on call consultant and, ultimately the Clinical Director for Medicine for the Elderly.

The timetable will be reviewed by the Clinical Director as part of the annual appraisal process.

Regular contribution to departmental meetings, Journal club and Medical Grand rounds of the hospital.

Undertake, exceptionally, to perform additional duties in occasional emergency and unforeseen circumstances.

In case of difficulties of any kind, the Specialty Doctor will seek the advice of the appropriate consultant. The Specialty Doctor is not expected to participate in any work beyond their level of expertise.

The appointee will undertake, exceptionally, to be available for such irregular commitments, outside normally rostered duties as are essential for patient care.

Communicate with patients, their relatives and carers, members of the multidisciplinary team, other specialties, GPs and the wider community services.

Cover other wards within Bedford Hospital/offsite units including the Archer Unit Bedford if required.

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.

Job responsibilities

Be required to provide a senior level of support to the department.

Attend ward & board rounds both with the Consultants and with the Specialty Training Doctors / Foundation Year 2 doctors. The Specialty Doctor may be responsible for unaccompanied ward rounds.

Work under the supervision of and be responsible to his/her respective consultant, or the on call consultant and, ultimately the Clinical Director for Medicine for the Elderly.

The timetable will be reviewed by the Clinical Director as part of the annual appraisal process.

Regular contribution to departmental meetings, Journal club and Medical Grand rounds of the hospital.

So far as is consistent with the proper discharge of the above duties undertake to deputise from time to time for absence colleagues.

Undertake, exceptionally, to perform additional duties in occasional emergency and unforeseen circumstances.

In case of difficulties of any kind, the Specialty Doctor will seek the advice of the appropriate consultant. The Specialty Doctor is not expected to participate in any work beyond their level of expertise.

The appointee will undertake, exceptionally, to be available for such irregular commitments, outside normally rostered duties as are essential for patient care.

Communicate with patients, their relatives and carers, members of the multidisciplinary team, other specialties, GPs and the wider community services.

Cover other wards within Bedford Hospital/offsite units including the Archer Unit Bedford if required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Medical Degree
• Full MRCP
• Additional relevant clinical experience

Registration

• Full GMC Registration
• GMC Licence to Practice (before commencement of employment)

Clinical experience

• Excellent all round experience of DGH work
• Minimum of 4 years post graduate clinical experience with minimum of 2 years in Elderly Medicine
• Ability to work independently, but aware of own limitations and know when to seek advice from senior colleagues
• Performing a comprehensive assessment of a patient with acute symptoms.
• A comprehensive knowledge of adverse drug reactions, drug interactions and how these might be affected by different diseases.
• up-to-date ALS.
• ALS instructors certificate

Clinical effectiveness

• Understand the principles of audits
• Experience of audits
• Capacity to organise oneself and prioritise own work. Demonstrates punctuality, preparation and self-discipline. Understands importance of information technology.
• Flexible attitude, team player with good management skills
• Ability to co‑operate in a democratic team environment
• capacity to operate under pressure. Demonstrates initiative and resilience to cope with the setbacks & adapt to rapidly changing circumstances capacity to use logical /lateral thinking to solve problems & make decisions.

Teaching

• Interest in and ability to contribute to teaching and learning of more junior doctors and medical students
• Publications and presentations

Clinical Governance

• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles and elements of clinical governance.

Personnel Circumstances

• Fit to undertake the role with satisfactory Occupational Health clearance
• Satisfactory DBS clearance

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.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust