Specialty Doctor in Elderly Medicine

NHS; Luton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Luton is looking for an enthusiastic Specialty Doctor in Elderly Medicine. You will provide senior-level support to a well-established team, ensuring high-quality care for complex patients. The role requires a minimum of 4 years clinical experience, with substantial expertise in Elderly Medicine. This position offers personal and professional development opportunities while working with specialists in a supportive environment. Join a team committed to delivering the best patient care using advanced clinical knowledge and technologies.

Benefits

High-quality training and development

Supportive team environment

Commitment to equality and diversity

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years post-graduate clinical experience with at least 2 years in Elderly Medicine.
• Understanding of audits and experience of clinical governance.
• Interest in contributing to teaching and learning of junior doctors.

Responsibilities

• Provide a senior level of support to the department.
• Attend ward & board rounds with consultants and junior doctors.
• Work under guidance of the Clinical Director for Elderly Medicine.
• Communicate with patients and multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Excellent all round experience of DGH work

Ability to work independently

Team player with good management skills

Capacity to operate under pressure

Education

Medical Degree

Full MRCP or equivalent

Job description

Specialty Doctor in Elderly Medicine

The closing date is 13 February 2026.

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

• 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. May be responsible for unaccompanied ward rounds.
• Work under the supervision of and be responsible to the respective consultant or 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.
• Regularly contribute to departmental meetings, Journal club and Medical Grand Rounds of the hospital.
• Deputate from time to time for absent colleagues.
• Undertake additional duties in occasional emergency and unforeseen circumstances.
• Seek advice of appropriate consultant when difficulties arise; not expected to perform work beyond level of expertise.
• Be available for irregular commitments outside normally rostered duties essential for patient care.
• Communicate with patients, relatives, carers, multidisciplinary team, other specialties, GPs and 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.

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

Job responsibilities

• 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. May be responsible for unaccompanied ward rounds.
• Work under the supervision of and be responsible to the respective consultant or 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.
• Regularly contribute to departmental meetings, Journal club and Medical Grand Rounds of the hospital.
• Deputate from time to time for absent colleagues.
• Undertake additional duties in occasional emergency and unforeseen circumstances.
• Seek advice of appropriate consultant when difficulties arise; not expected to perform work beyond level of expertise.
• Be available for irregular commitments outside normally rostered duties essential for patient care.
• Communicate with patients, relatives, carers, multidisciplinary team, other specialties, GPs and wider community services.
• Cover other wards within Bedford Hospital/offsite units including the Archer Unit Bedford if required.

Please see attached JD.

Person Specification

See below for qualifications, registration, clinical experience, clinical effectiveness, teaching, governance, personnel circumstances and disclosure and barring service check.

Qualifications

• Medical Degree
• Full MRCP or equivalent i.e. MD
• 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 instructor 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 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