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Location

Maidstone, Kent | United Kingdom

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Job description

This is an appointment to the Specialty Medical Directorate which provides clinical services at both Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital. There are opportunities to undertake outreach clinic in local community hospitals. Job share applicants are welcome.

The post-holder will undertake five out-patient clinic sessions in Rheumatology across the sites.

The new consultant will participate in quality improvement and service development across the trust. Successful applicant will provide leadership and supervision to the multidisciplinary team, including registrars and nurse specialists. The rheumatology consultant team shares additional responsibilities including provision of advice and guidance for primary care colleagues, triaging of referrals and reviewing ward referrals. Development of sub-specialty interests and relevant non-clinical skills are strongly encouraged. Participation in General Medicine/Acute Medicine is optional.

This position is for an initial 12 months contract, with opportunity for extension and/or conversion into a long term substantive position

The successful candidate will join the team of seven Rheumatologists who currently provide local services across the Trust. The Rheumatology department runs dedicated early synovitis, connective tissue disease, ultrasound and osteoporosis clinics. There is a weekly biologic MDM. The department delivers a high-quality audited biologic program that has published outcomes. Currently c.1600 new referrals are seen in the clinics each year along with c. 7400 follow-up appointments. There is access to an ultrasound machine at both sites.

The Trust was formed in April 2000 by the merger of the Mid Kent Healthcare Trust and the Kent & Sussex Weald NHS Trust. It provides general hospital services to a population of approximately 460,000 in West Kent and North East Sussex, and some specialist services to a considerably larger population. Its major hospitals are the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury and Maidstone Hospital. The Trust’s Headquarters are at Maidstone Hospital. The Trust’s Chairman is Mr David Highton, the Chief Executive is Mr Miles Scott and the Medical Director is Dr Peter Maskell. The Clinical Director for Specialist Medicine, which encompasses rheumatology, is Dr Simon Webster. Laurence Maiden is the chief of medicine and the Lead for rheumatology is Dr Matt Szeto.

To provide a high standard of care to any patient for whom you have clinical responsibility, including any patients referred to you and cared for by you or by members of your team and any patients of consultant colleagues when you are covering for leave.
To participate in clinical and service developments with the aim of ensuring a high standard of patient care across the Trust.
To work in close co-operation with other medical, professional and managerial colleagues, both within and outside the specialty, to provide high quality health care to the Trust’s patients, and to make a contribution to future thinking about the Trust’s strategic direction.
To participate fully in and share leadership of the clinical governance of the specialty covering its Trust-wide activities. To attend clinical governance half-days as detailed in the Trust’s Guide to Job Planning unless on agreed leave or while attending emergencies.
To participate actively in departmental audits, sharing co-ordination of audit activities within the department and implementation of change.
To take an active responsibility for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, training and supervision.
To assume responsibility, both personally and corporately with consultant colleagues, for the management of junior medical staff. You are expected to be involved in their professional development, both clinical and personal as per guidance from the Deanery.

This advert closes on Wednesday 6 Mar 2024

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Job tags

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Salary