Consultant in Rheumatology

Job summary

We are seeking to appoint a Consultant Rheumatologist to join the Dorset-wide Rheumatology service. This post will be primarily based at Christchurch Hospital, working in close partnership with the substantive consultant teams across Dorset.

The Dorset Rheumatology service delivers a comprehensive secondary care rheumatology service for the population of Dorset. Services are centred on our two major hub sites at Christchurch Hospital and Dorset County Hospital, with additional outpatient activity delivered through a hub-and-spoke model across Dorset. Inpatient rheumatology consultations are provided via Royal Bournemouth Hospital in the east of the county and Dorset County Hospital in the west.

This appointment comes at an exciting period of development following the merger of Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals and Poole Hospital to form University Hospitals Dorset, and the subsequent extension of collaborative working across Dorset County Hospital. The successful candidate will join a supportive, forward-looking consultant body and will have opportunities to contribute to service development as the Dorset Rheumatology service continues to evolve.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will contribute to the delivery of high-quality consultant-led rheumatology care across Dorset. The role includes consultant outpatient clinics based at Christchurch Hospital, with inpatient rheumatology input delivered via Royal Bournemouth Hospital. There may also be scope for limited satellite outpatient activity within the east of Dorset, subject to service need and job planning.

The post holder will work closely with consultant colleagues across the county and within the wider multidisciplinary team, contributing to urgent and routine rheumatology pathways, clinical governance, teaching, and continuous service improvement.

There is flexibility to shape aspects of the role in line with the appointee's experience and interests. Ideally, applicants should have experience or a strong interest in connective tissue disease and giant cell arteritis, and the service particularly welcomes candidates with an interest in contributing to GCA assessment pathways, including vascular ultrasound, with support for further development available where required.

About us

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.

UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.

This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have at interview.

As part of our commitment to delivering high-quality care across seven days, this post may involve participation in an out-of-hours rota, including evenings, weekends, and/or bank holidays, in accordance with service needs. Any work undertaken outside standard hours/PA's will attract remuneration in line with the respective NHS Medical and Dental Terms and Conditions of Service.

We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.