Locum Consultant Radiologist

Job responsibilities

About University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is the largest hospital in the Southwest peninsula and a major trauma centre, providing comprehensive secondary and tertiary healthcare.

Our geography gives us a secondary care catchment population of 450,000 with a wider peninsula population of almost 2,000,000 people who can access our specialist services. The population is characterised by its diversity the rural and the urban, the wealthy and pockets of deprivation, and wide variance in health and life expectancy. Population ageing is a recognised national trend, but is exacerbated locally by the drift of younger people out of the area and older people in. The proportion of our population aged 85 or over is growing ahead of the national average by approximately 10 years and we have developed a Population Health Strategy in response to this demographic shift.

We work within a network of other hospitals to offer a range of specialist services:

Kidney transplant

Pancreatic cancer surgery

Neurosurgery

Cardiothoracic surgery

Bone marrow transplant

Oesophagogastric surgery

Hepatobiliary surgery

Neonatal intensive care and high-risk obstetrics

Plastic surgery

Liver transplant evaluation

Stereotactic radiosurgery

FUTURE STRATEGY AND VISION

Derriford Hospital opened in 1981 and has gradually expanded to replace the four major acute hospitals in Plymouth in existence at that time. The site was chosen just outside the city limits to facilitate this expansion. The availability of adjacent land has permitted the development of a Medical City as local planners concentrate medical developments within this area. Specifically, the acquisition of land has enabled the following developments to take place:

A science park adjacent to the Hospital that includes the Diving Diseases Research Centre, Medical Innovations Centre and the relatively new Undergraduate Medical School buildings.

A rehabilitation unit dedicated to the treatment of neurological and orthopaedic rehabilitation.

The construction of the state-of-the-art Terence Lewis Building which houses the Southwest Cardiothoracic and Vascular Centre with full critical care facilities, library, research and teaching facilities.

The Radiology academy (a Department of Health initiative) which provides full facilities for teaching and training in radiological diagnosis and treatment.

New residential buildings for hospital staff.

A new dialysis unit located close to but not within the hospital grounds to facilitate ease of access and parking for these patients.

The Future hospital project aimed at construction of the state-of-the art emergency department, Radiology department and operating theatres including dedicated Neuro-hybrid theatre and vascular hybrid theatres. The project planned to be completed by end of 2026.

The Trust is a cancer centre and major trauma centre for the Southwest Peninsula.

The South West Cardiothoracic Centre provides a service for patients who previously had to travel substantial distances for treatment elsewhere in the United kingdom. With continual expansion the centre performs in excess of 1500 open heart procedures per year.

The Trust provides tertiary services (neurosurgery, maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, cardiac and thoracic surgery, transplantation, radiotherapy and oncology) for a population of up to 2 million people living in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset.

The Trust has laid out 5-year and 10-year strategy with focus on creating regional network with Cornwall to increase patient volumes given the published evidence linking volumes and outcomes in vascular surgery (POVS 2021). Our published data prior to COVID19 is in line with VS recommendations in the Provision of Vascular Services. The Future hospital project has hybrid vascular theatre incorporated in the plan and we hope to get this ready by 2026.

Central funding has also been secured for the CDC development which will encompass 2 CT, 2 MR, 2 plain film and 4 ultrasound suites providing diagnostic services in the centre of Plymouth. This is also due to open in September 2025 and will provide dedicated consultant office and reporting space in a purpose-built city-centre environment.

For more information, please visit the Trusts website at http://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk

The work of the department

The Radiology department at UHPT is a large teaching department responsible for specialist registrar training. Derriford Hospital is a large Teaching Hospital providing secondary and tertiary care to a population of 1.7 million. It is a busy Trauma centre. The main x-ray service is accommodated within two large adjacent departments, and a third smaller one in A&E.

The trust has a full Insignia PACS service connected to all Imaging modalities, installed in 2013. There is Voice Recognition integrated to the Radiology Information System (Wellbeing RIS with Dragon VR). Both PACS and RIS are shared systems operating across the South-West Peninsula, allowing for near seamless image sharing between the trust and neighbouring hospitals.

Reporting of inpatient and ED imaging is provided on an extended working day basis by radiology consultants (9am 7pm), with radiology registrars providing out-of-hours cover 9pm 9am with both neuroradiology and general radiology consultants providing non-resident on call. Weekends are fully staffed by radiology registrars, again with both neuroradiology and general radiology consultants providing non-resident on call. In addition, 7 day working has been established with daily inpatient ultrasound and additional low-acuity CT reporting being provided by consultants.

The current frequency of general radiology on call is approximately 1 in 18.

Peninsula Radiology Academy:

The Peninsula is host to one of the 7 Radiology Academies in the UK and is one of the few purpose-built units of its kind in the world. The site has full PACS, state of the art ultrasound and a variety of novel teaching methods including interventional simulators and access to interventional models. The teaching is underpinned by the electronic learning database, which covers the whole of the radiology curriculum and is the largest electronic teaching system in Europe. It has won several educational awards and supplements the excellent teaching delivered by the consultants in the Peninsula. The training scheme is highly regarded for the quality of opportunity and teaching and takes up to 16 Registrars per year. The successful applicant would be encouraged to become involved in the teaching program. The Academy facility is being further developed to provide teaching and training to radiography and sonography students in addition to radiology registrars, with additional plain film and ultrasound suites providing further learning opportunities.

GENERAL WORKLOAD

General x-ray examinations

~195,000

Barium examinations

~3,600

Ultrasound examinations (non-obstetric)

~41,000

CT scans

~44,500

MRI scans

~22,000

Breast screening (mobile van)

~21,000

Symptomatic and screening ultrasound/FNA/Core biopsies

~5,505

Nuclear Medicine examinations

~8,400

Proposed Job Plan: to be reviewed at 3 months

Type (DCC/SPA)

PA

Monday

AM

Fluoroscopy / academy teaching / specialist reporting (to be discussed)

DCC

1

PM

Specialist radiology (GI/Uro)

DCC

1

Tuesday

AM

General / Specialist US

DCC

1

PM

Departmental duty

DCC

1

Wednesday

AM

General CT (OP or IP)

DCC

1

PM

SPA

Patient related admin

SPA

DCC

0.5

0.5

Thursday

AM

SPA

SPA

1

PM

Specialist radiology (GI/Uro) MDT prep

DCC

1

Friday

AM

Specialist radiology (GI/Uro) MDT chair

DCC

1

PM

Specialist radiology (GI/Uro) or Endoscopic US

DCC

1

Totals

Total DCC

8.5

Total SPA

1.5

Total PAs

10

On call

This post is not envisaged to have an on call commitment. The below is illustrative only; however if on-call work is desired by the successful candidate, this will be open to negotiation.

The post-holder will be provided with a PC and PACS workstation, with the option to locate one of these off-site to facilitate home working. If the applicant wishes to work primarily remotely, this can be discussed.

The post holder will be required to comply with all Trust Policies notably in relation to job planning, appraisal and leave taking in line with Departmental and Trust objectives. The programme shown is for illustrative purposes and could be subject to modification, in agreement with the post holder and the Imaging Service Line Clinical Director.

The Directorate would support any research interests of the Consultant in conjunction with the Trust lead for R & D. All consultants are expected to actively participate in the departments audit and clinical governance program.

Education, qualifications & special training

Essential

• Full GMC registration
• Fellowship Royal College of Radiologists (or equivalent
• CCT in radiology and entry on Specialist Register (or expected within 6 months of interview

Desirable

• MD, PhD or other postgraduate degree

Particular skills and experience

Essential

• Clinical training and experience equivalent to that required for gaining UK CCT in radiology
• Broad skills in general and cross-sectional imaging including acute imaging services
• Ability to offer expert opinion on full range of standard GI and/or Urological imaging
• Ability to support GI and/or Urology MDT work in a cancer and tertiary surgical centre
• Ability to perform broad range of general ultrasound examinations
• Ability to supervise radiology StRs across a broad range of imaging
• Ability to teach and supervise reporting radiographers
• Willing to participate in radiology on-call rota

Desirable

• Ability to perform Endoscopic Ultrasound
• Extended US skills eg Contrast-enhanced ultrasound, small bowel ultrasound
• Ability to provide specialist imaging in support of regional andrology service
• Ability & willingness to perform biopsies & drainages under imaging guidance

Research & clinical audit

Essential

• Ability to apply evidence-based approach to management of clinical problems
• Evidence of completed audit projects

Desirable

• Completion of clinical research
• Publications in peer reviewed journals
• Ability to undertake basic science research
• Ability to lead research team
• Previous success in grant applications to national funding bodies

Teaching

Essential

• Ability to teach clinical and practical skills

Desirable

• Experience of teaching clinical skills to undergraduate and post graduate students
• Ability to supervise postgraduate research

Communication & interpersonal skills

Essential

• Well-presented CV
• Ability to communicate well with patients and staff both orally and in writing
• Honesty and reliability
• Ability to work in a team
• Enquiring, critical approach to work
• Caring attitude to patients, relatives, GP's, nurses and other agencies
• Commitment to Continuing Medical Education
• Leadership qualities

Desirable

• Information technology skills
• Willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at local, regional or national levels

Management

Essential

• Ability to advise on efficient and smooth running of specialist service
• Ability and willingness to participate in Department, Directorate and Trust Management
• Experience in audit.

Desirable

• Experience in medical management

Practical Requirements

Essential

• Ability and willingness to work hours of the job, shifts, on-call with any reasonable adjustment to take account of any local requirement or disability.
• Ability to move between sites if required

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).