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Milton Keynes University Hospital

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

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2cb80408d201

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01.08.2025

15.09.2025

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Job overview

Job Title: Consultant Rheumatology

We reserve the right to close posts early if we receive a sufficient volume of applications. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service Check.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Milton Keynes is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Full GMC registration and license to practice is essential for this role. Candidates without GMC registration at the time of shortlisting will not be considered.

Main duties of the job

Since this is a partial replacement and partial new post, the candidate will have the opportunity to set up new service or pursue existing specialist interests, should they wish. The clinical work consists mainly of outpatient work, but inpatient consults do form a part of every consultant’s job plan.

The candidate will be joining an enthusiastic, friendly, and growing local department. We also have established networks with many Centres of National Excellence and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford is our Tertiary Centre. We have high quality, supportive primary care colleagues including one with a specialist interest in rheumatology (GPwSI). The wider hospital community works closely with rheumatology for cross-speciality cases.

In addition to clinical work, there ample are opportunities for research and teaching, both undergraduate and post-graduate. These can be discussed as a part of the job planning process.

We are looking for a colleague to both complement the existing team but also to being their own ideas, input, and professional expertise to the department.

Working for our organisation

You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

• Free on-site parking
• Free tea and coffee
• Great flexible working opportunities
• Discounted gym membership
• Lease car scheme
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme
• Extensive staff health and well-being programme

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The job plan on appointment will consist of a split of 7.5:2.5 DCC/SPA. The SPA component is made up of core activities (appraisal, revalidation, CME, routine departmental meetings etc.) and non-core activities. Non-core activities are discussed and agreed within the Trust (via an agreed tariff and, on occasion, through ad personal agreement). Non-core SPA may reflect activities such as educational supervision, research, leadership and quality improvement. Following appointment, non-core SPA may be used to participate in our consultant development programme, or in acquiring or consolidating specific skills and expertise. Non-core SPA is only available if specific activities and objectives are mutually agreed in job planning.

Through its inclusive and comprehensive job planning process, the trust commits to providing equitable working conditions to medical colleagues across specialties and their sub-specialties. Delivery of job plans, whilst owned by consultants and their Clinical Service Unit Leads, is overseen by the Divisional Director and subject to peer challenge at divisional level, thus enabling a further layer objectivity to our commitment in this regard.

Review of Job Plan

The job plan is subject to review once a year and is signed off between the post holder, the CSU Lead and an Executive Director of the Trust. Participation in annual appraisals is a contractual requirement. The Trust has procedures for resolving disagreements concerning job plan, either following appointment or at annual review.

Teaching

There are a number of specific roles within the hospital relating to our joint endeavours with the University of Buckingham Medical School. These roles involve teaching and the wider management of the undergraduate training programme. These activities are recognised explicitly in job plans. Day-to-day teaching on the wards and in clinic is accounted for within direct clinical care (DCC) time.

Research and Development

Over the last few years, Research and Development has been one of the fastest growing areas within the hospital and we are consistently in the top five small acute trusts in England for our research performance. We are actively involved in research that is developing and trialling new treatments for patients. We believe that conducting cutting-edge health research helps us to provide better care for our patients.

Our main clinical research areas are:

·Gastrointestinal & IBD

·Rheumatology

·Accident and Emergencies

·Ophthalmology

The Appointee

Facilities for appointee

The appointee will have access to an office, and secretarial support will be available. Consultant offices are equipped with a Personal Computer with suitable peripherals and connectivity. The library has access to current books and journals.

All doctors must have an annual appraisal and review of the job plan part of which will include completion of Mandatory Training. Trust appraisers are appointed by the Medical Director for appraisal and revalidation. Key issues arising from the appraisal process are relayed to the CSU Lead and Medical Director.

Continuous Personal Development
The Trust is fully committed to CPD. There are internal meetings (with certificates issued) plus a study leave allowance of 30 days over 3 years with funding available. As part of the job plan there is a core SPA (1PA) for supporting professional activities and CPD

Person specification

Qualifications/ Registration

• Medical degree, FCEM or equivalent
• Will be required to maintain full registration with the General Medical Council
• Applications must be on the specialist register or within 6 months of CCT/ completion for Rheumatology or Rheumatology and General Medicine.
• Interest/ Qualification in Education/Research
• Other tertiary qualification including Education/Research

Experience/ Training

• Minimum seven years’ postgraduate experience, including higher medical training – five years as a Specialist Registrar/Trainee. Part of this period may be in a post of equivalent responsibility and training potential
• Interest/ accreditation in Education

Knowledge

• Appropriate level of clinical knowledge
• Knowledge and application of up to date evidence based practice
• IT Skills
• Breadth of experience within and outside speciality.

Leadership Skills

• To motivate and develop both medical staff and non-medical staff

Audit

• Evidence of participation in audit

Communication skills and teaching

• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Evidence of the ability to communicate with patients, colleagues and staff at all levels
• Ability to work constructively in a team environment
• A proven background in organising and delivering undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research with evidence of training for the role is highly desirable
• Ability to be able to appraise both trainees and other staff
• A qualification in Medical Education, such as a Diploma

Other Requirements

• Ability to work independently as well as part of wider team of both doctors and allied health care professionals
• To balance individual requirements against those of the Directorate and Trust as a whole
• Ability to gain the trust and confidence of colleagues and patients
• Commitment to developing new services
• Ability and desire to take part in Clinical Directorate management

Personality

• Enthusiastic and ability to inspire enthusiasm in others

Performance

• Current PDP
• experience with research or audit tools
• Professional publications

We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.