Specialty Doctor in Palliative care

Bedfordshire Hospitals; Luton; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Luton and Dunstable Hospital is inviting applications for a Specialty Doctor in Palliative Care. The post is fixed-term for 12 months, full time across 10 sessions per week, with a salary range of £63,696 to £102,689 per annum and a closing date of 29 October 2026.

The role requires full GMC Registration, 2 years post-registration experience, and a strong commitment to MDT working, symptom management, and excellent communication with patients and

Qualifications

• Fully registered with a license to practise in the UK.
• Minimum 2 years clinical experience post-registration.
• Evidence of foundation competencies and GMC registration.
• Desire to work in palliative medicine and MDT settings.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the MDT and LDH palliative care teams.
• Review referred patients on ward and ED; conduct new patient assessments.
• Electronic prescribing for symptom management on SPCT caseload.
• Lead or attend family meetings and manage complex communications.
• Escalate to senior staff when required; liaise with other clinical teams.
• Care for PVW patients in the community and within hospital pathways.
• Attend weekly SPC MDT and morning huddle; participate in teaching and audits.

Education

MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

MRCP Part II Written or PACES or equivalent

Postgraduate qualification relevant to palliative medicine

Full GMC Registration

Evidence of Foundation competencies (Good Medical Practice)

Evidence of ST1/CT1 competences

Eligibility to work in the UK

Experience in specialist palliative care team

Job description

Main area Palliative care Grade Specialty Doctor Contract Fixed term: 12 months (FTC for 12 months) Hours Full time - 10 sessions per week Job ref 418-M-ON-004

Site Luton and Dunstable Hospital Town Luton Salary £63,696 - £102,689 Per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 29/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

This post is for a Specialty Doctor in Palliative Care.

It would be suitable for doctors who are fully registered with a license to practice, and who have at least 2 years clinical experience post-registration. Essential and desirable criteria are listed under ‘person specifications’ below.

This post is particularly suitable for doctors who have an interest in any of the following:

• Pursuing a career in Palliative Medicine and/or Frailty and/or Elderly Care
• Working across the interface between hospital and community care
• Acquiring excellent advanced communication skills
• Working in a dynamic environment
• Working within a multi-disciplinary team

Main duties of the job

• Working collaboratively with other members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT): MDT working is a key component of working in the department. The post holder will work closely with the palliative care Clinical Nurse Specialists, with the End of Life Care Nurses, and with any other members of the MDT.
• Reviewing patients referred to the Specialist Palliative Care Team (SPCT) on any ward (including ED) within Luton & Dunstable Hospital (LDH). This will include new patient assessments and reviews of patients on the team’s caseload.
• As needed, reviewing patients alone or with another member of the SPCT.
• Electronic prescribing of medications for symptom management for patients on the SPCT caseload.
• Leading and/or attending family meetings as required.
• Managing complex communication including breaking bad news, advance care planning, managing the dying phase and more.
• Promptly escalating and/or highlighting the need for senior support and/or review for any of the patients on the SPCT caseload.
• Liaising with medical and surgical teams within LDH. This could include discussing patients on the SPCT caseload, discussing new or potential referrals, and providing SPC advice.

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.

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

1. Duties and Responsibilities

• Working collaboratively with other members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT): MDT working is a key component of working in the department. The post holder will work closely with the palliative care Clinical Nurse Specialists, with the End of Life Care Nurses, and with any other members of the MDT.
• Reviewing patients referred to the Specialist Palliative Care Team (SPCT) on any ward (including ED) within Luton & Dunstable Hospital (LDH). This will include new patient assessments and reviews of patients on the team’s caseload.
• As needed, reviewing patients alone or with another member of the SPCT.
• Electronic prescribing of medications for symptom management for patients on the SPCT caseload.
• Leading and/or attending family meetings as required.
• Managing complex communication including breaking bad news, advance care planning, managing the dying phase and more.
• Promptly escalating and/or highlighting the need for senior support and/or review for any of the patients on the SPCT caseload.
• Liaising with medical and surgical teams within LDH. This could include discussing patients on the SPCT caseload, discussing new or potential referrals, and providing SPC advice.
• Providing care to patients registered with the palliative virtual ward (PVW), who will be receiving hospital care but residing in the community. This could include home visits alone and/or with another member of the MDT, as appropriate, and in line with the PVW Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
• For patients on the PVW, acting as the first point of call for medical advice for community CNSs and other non-medical healthcare professionals.
• Attending the weekly SPC MDT.
• When needed, attending the morning pan-Bedfordshire SPC huddle.
• Supporting the consultant and other members of the MDT in any other activities relating to the clinical work. This could include participation in teaching and training of multi-disciplinary staff in hospital and/or the community, clinical audit, other quality improvement activities, reviewing guidelines and more.
• Keeping clear and accurate clinical notes (in line with Trust policies and GMC guidance) in relation to all clinical activity, and on all appropriate IT systems as specified by the SPCT. These will include at least NerveCentre and Systmone.
• Making onward referrals (internal and external) for patients on the SPCT or PVW caseloads, as appropriate.

Qualifications

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• MRCP Part II Written or PACES or equivalent.
• Postgraduate qualification relevant to palliative medicine or related specialty
• Full GMC Registration (GMC Licence to Practice is mandatory before employment commences)
• Evidence of achievement of Foundation competencies by time of appointment in line with GMC standards in Good Medical Practice including: Good clinical care - Maintaining good medical practice - Good relationships and communication with patients - Good working relationships with colleagues - Good teaching and training - Professional behaviour and probity - Delivery of good acute clinical care
• Evidence of achievement of ST1/CT1 competences in a relevant specialty at time of application and likelihood of achieving ST2/CT2 competences in a relevant specialty by the start date of the post.
• To be eligible to work at this grade the appointee must have a minimum of 2 years clinical experience, with broad medical experience and some experience with managing palliative care patients.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.
• Experience working in a specialist palliative care team (in hospital, community or hospice settings)

Fitness to practise

• Applicant’s knowledge is up to date and fit to practise safely

Language Skills

• All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues, which could be demonstrated by one of the following: Applicants have undertaken undergraduate medical training in English - Applicants have scores in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent equal to those required for recruitment to MMC specialty training programmes.
• If applicants believe that they have adequate communication skills but do not fit into one of the examples they need to provide evidence.

Health

• Meets professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards in Good Medical Practice)

Clinical Skills

• Relevant specialty clinical knowledge: capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge relevant to the job.
• Clinical judgement: experience in making clinical decisions and managing risk. Knows when to seek help, able to prioritise clinical need.
• Practical skills: shows aptitude for practical skills, required for the job.
• Proven ability to work effectively in different clinical settings required in the job.

Specialty specific skills related to the post

• Good understanding of the principles underlying palliative care practice.
• Basic or higher knowledge of 1st line palliative care symptom management steps.
• Ability to summarise and present clinical cases for effective handover.
• Competent and safe prescriber, including of controlled drugs.
• Ability to cooperate in a democratic team environment.

Clinical Governance

• Clinical governance: Capacity to be alert to dangers or problems. Demonstrates awareness of good decision making. Aware of own limitations. Track record of engaging in clinical governance: reporting errors, learning from errors.
• Audit: evidence of active participation in audit.
• Teaching: evidence of interest and experience in teaching where required in the job.
• Demonstrates understanding of the principles of research, evidence of relevant academic and research achievements.

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.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.