Specialty Doctor in Elderly Medicine

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.

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.