Consultant in Palliative Medicine

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is looking to appoint a dynamic, innovative, flexible and forward-thinking consultant colleague with a particular interest in hospital based palliative care on a 12month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave. The successful applicant will join existing consultants based in Torbay; Dr George Walker, Dr Sarah Human and Dr Fay Murray-Brown. The Torbay and South Devon Specialist Palliative Care Service is delivered by 2 providers; Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and Rowcroft Hospice. Although not formally integrated, the 2 organisations aim to provide a seamless service for patients; the cornerstone of this provision is a combined medical consultant team, covering acute, community and hospice inpatient facilities. This post is based with the Hospital Palliative Care Team at Torbay Hospital., The postholder will join the Hospital Palliative Care Team based on the Torbay hospital site. The team forms an integral component of both the Cancer Support Team and the Torbay and South Devon Specialist Palliative Care Service.

The HPCT provides a specialist palliative care service in the acute setting from 0900 to 1800 Monday to Friday and 09.00 to 14.00 at weekends. This is a liaison service, working with teams throughout the hospital to provide support, expert advice and guidance for the care of patients requiring palliative and end of life (EOL) care. The service receives an average of 124 new referrals per month, 48% of patients with cancer and 52% with non-cancer diagnoses.

Current direct clinical medical input to the HPCT is provided by Dr Fay Murray-Brown (0.6wte), Dr Emily Russell (0.6wte) and Dr Helen Kimble (0.6wte); these figures exclude on call commitment for the whole service. Dr Sarah Human and Dr George Walker provide additional clinical support when cover required.

On call activity

The on-call commitment is 1 in 5 second on call out of hours advice for Rowcroft Hospice, Torbay Hospital and community services; this may be subject to change as the consultant workforce develops. On call activity includes support for rotating medical trainees covering the hospice first on call. There is also a 1 in 25 Friday/weekend first on call commitment for the inpatient unit at Rowcroft Hospice; admissions are taken out of hours 24/7.

Why Work With Us

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is an Integrated Care Organisation providing acute health care services from Torbay Hospital, community health services and adult social care. The Trust runs Torbay Hospital as well as five community hospitals, stretching from Dawlish to Brixham.

Torbay Hospital is a medium-sized, progressive and innovative District General Hospital providing acute services to South Devon with a 10-bedded Critical Care Unit, six general theatres, three orthopaedic theatres and a day surgery unit. We provide services in most specialties within Torbay but have close working relationships with Royal Devon University Healthcare (Exeter and North Devon) and University Hospitals Plymouth.