Consultant, Respiratory and General Medicine - 8+1 PA

Job responsibilities

The Respiratory Department sees approximately over 3000 new patients a year and we aim to offer an appointment within four weeks of referral. The lung function laboratory is led by Rama Gorrela, Chief Physiologist who is supported by two full-time technicians. In addition to standard lung function, there is a full Allergy service and a growing sleep service. The department has over 3000 patients on CPAP and receives referrals from other catchment areas as well. Having had one of the highest incidences of tuberculosis in the UK, the current rate is 27 per 100,000, below the London average. The prevalence of sarcoidosis is ~25 per 100,000 due to the large Afro-Caribbean, West African and white population groups. Bronchoscopies have a dedicated endoscopy facility. Endoscopic and endobronchial ultrasound for mediastinal lymph node sampling is used with referrals received from across NE London. The Lung Cancer service is supported by a Lung CNS, an Acute Oncology Nurse and a team of Palliative Care Nurses. Inpatient respiratory care is delivered via Lamb Ward which is a 28-bed unit dedicated to the care of respiratory and general medicine patients. The post holder is expected to participate in the ward management these patients on Lamb ward in periods of 8 weeks block to maintain patient continuity work with other colleagues and be involved in the management of respiratory cases on other wards. There is a weekly departmental meeting which includes case presentations, journal club and mortality review. The department for the medical management of tuberculosis for NE London is located at the Homerton University Hospital, the allergy service is accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and the specialty also delivers active and highly regarded TB community services. There is an integrated respiratory service (ACERS) working across primary and secondary care, looking after patients with COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis and interstitial lung disease and also cardiac failure. There are also specialist nurses for Allergy, Asthma and Lung Cancer. There are ongoing post Covid-19 follow-up, interstital lung disease, TB and cough clinics and the post holder is expected to be involved in providing this service. General Medicine The Hospital has 237 beds in total, including an acute care unit, dedicated stroke unit, integrated acute and rehabilitation elderly care unit and the Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit (RNRU). There is a 12 bedded ITU/HDU, with a critical care outreach team. The Accident and Emergency Department was newly built in 2000 and has over 110,000 attendances per year. All acute admissions (excluding paediatrics and gynaecology) are admitted to a 34 bedded Acute Care Unit (ACU) for prompt investigation and treatment with an expected stay of 24-48 hours before either discharge or transfer to specialty-based wards. Respiratory problems account for 20% of all acute admissions and non-invasive ventilation can take place on Lamb Ward, ACU and ITU. Acute Medicine is provided by General Physicians with interests in Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Elderly Care, Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology. On the take day the Consultant of the day provides leadership on the Acute Care Unit from 8am-8pm and is responsible for all admission during a 24-hour period. At weekends the Consultant is responsible for all admission during the period and for being physically present on the ACU up to 12 hours each day. Clinical support services are characterised by excellent liaison with clinicians. A full range of biochemical, haematological and microbiological investigations are provided on site and a consultant microbiologist is always available for advice, seeing patients if necessary. Histopathology is sent to the Royal London hospital but there are clinicopathological meetings at which cases can be discussed. The radiology department provides the usual range of investigations including spiral CT and MRI. The Same Day Emergency Care unit (SDEC) provides delivers emergency hospital care without admission to an acute inpatient bed. Ongoing treatment or investigation that would otherwise have required admission is delivered either by scheduling return visits to the ambulatory service or by management on the same day. This is facilitated by early senior decision-making and utilising robust evidence-based management strategies for common ambulatory care conditions ensuring safe, consistent, and efficient practice without acute admission. There is also the opportunity to discharge a subset of patients from inpatient beds into the ambulatory care service once they are well enough to do so, but before they would otherwise have been discharged. The post holder is expected have a scheduled session in managing respiratory cases, particular pleural procedures.

Qualifications

Essential

• Specialist registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) or a Specialist Registrar who is within 6 months of being admitted to the GMC's specialist register by date of interview / CCT MRCP/FRCP/MBBS (or equivalent)

Desirable

• MD (Resp), PhD or other higher degree

Relevant experience in speciality

Essential

• Sub specialist training in airways disease- Asthma and COPD

Desirable

• Experience in MDT participation in delivering biologic therapies for asthma.
• Publications or presentations in asthma or COPD.
• Experience in integrated care or community respiratory pathways

Clinical skills

Essential

• Ability to practice independently in respiratory medicine and general internal medicine and offer expert clinical opinion on a range of respiratory and general medical problems
• Evidence of leadership skills and service development experience

Leadership and professionalism

Essential

• Ability to take responsibility, lead, make decisions and respond appropriately to service need

Desirable

• Familiar with current structure of the health service and conversant with recent initiatives and changes

Management skills

Essential

• Awareness of the overall business environment in which the hospital operates
• Understanding of the importance of good clinical coding

Desirable

• Management of team or programme or project; management qualification

Teaching & training

Essential

• Experience of undergraduate and post-graduate teaching

Desirable

• Experience of educational supervision, Educational qualifications

Clinical Governance

Essential

• Evidence of contribution to effective audit and clinical risk management

Research

Essential

• Understanding of principles and application of clinical research
• Publication of peer reviewed papers

Desirable

• Relevant research experience

Communication skills

Essential

• Ability to communicate with clarity and intelligently in written and spoken English
• IT skills and computer literacy

Desirable

• Computer skills course/certificate

Patient focused skills

Essential

• Empathy, understanding, listening skills, patience, social skills appropriate to different types of client

Desirable

• Advance Communication Skills Course

Interpersonal skills

Essential

• Good interpersonal skills coupled with an ability to co-operate, persuade and negotiate within a senior clinical and management team

Personal attributes

Essential

• An awareness of own strengths and weaknesses coupled with an ability to deploy them effectively
• Professional attitude towards work, good record of attendance

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).