Job summary
We are inviting applications for a Consultant in Palliative Medicine to join our progressive and compassionate team. This is a pivotal role within a well-established multidisciplinary service, delivering high-quality, patient-centred care across inpatient, outpatient, and advisory settings.
You'll be the named consultant for our specialist palliative care beds, contribute to strategic leadership in end-of-life care, and play a key role in education, research, and service development. With strong links to local hospices and academic institutions, this is a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of palliative care in North West Surrey.
We're looking for a GMC-registered consultant with a passion for holistic care, collaborative working, and continuous improvement. In return, we offer a supportive culture, flexible working, and excellent professional development opportunities.
INTERVIEWS FOR THIS POST WILL BE HELD IN PERSON ON 29/01/2026
Main duties of the job
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Clinical Leadership & Care Delivery
- Provide high-quality specialist palliative care across inpatient, outpatient, and advisory services.
- Act as the named consultant for patients in the specialist palliative care (SPC) ward.
- Participate in daily medical reviews and multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings.
- Offer prompt clinical opinions to colleagues across specialties.
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Strategic & Service Development
- Lead on end-of-life care strategy and quality improvement initiatives.
- Support hospital-wide initiatives such as rapid discharge pathways and reducing inappropriate admissions.
- Contribute to the development of local and national policy and guidance (e.g. NICE).
-
Education & Training
- Deliver teaching and supervision to junior doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals.
- Support the development of nurse prescribers and SAS doctors.
- Contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.
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Research & Audit
- Participate in clinical audits, mortality reviews, and national benchmarking (e.g. NACEL).
- Engage in research and support recruitment to clinical trials.
- Collaborate with academic institutions to promote evidence-based practice.
-
Governance & Professional Development
- Participate in appraisal, job planning, and clinical governance activities.
- Support recruitment, mentoring, and development of multidisciplinary staff.
- Maintain professional standards and contribute to risk management and patient safety.
About us
Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.
Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.
We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.
We are expanding our theatres at Ashford Hospital and moving towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures.
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- On-site Nurseries
- On-site staff cafes
- On-site parking
- Support in career development
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including wage stream, lease cars, Cycle to Work schemes and home electronics
Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
For more information about a career at ASPH please visit:www.asph-careers.org
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, you will play a central role in delivering high-quality, compassionate care to patients with complex palliative and end-of-life needs. You will act as the named consultant for patients in the specialist palliative care ward, providing expert clinical input across inpatient, outpatient, and advisory services. Your leadership will be vital in daily medical reviews, multidisciplinary team meetings, and in supporting integrated care across the Trust.
You will contribute strategically to the development and implementation of end-of-life care pathways, working closely with local hospices and community services to ensure seamless transitions and continuity of care. Your role will also involve supporting early identification and care planning for patients in acute settings such as A&E and CAU, and helping to embed advance care planning tools and best practice frameworks across the organisation.
Education and mentorship are key components of this role. You will supervise and support junior doctors, nurse prescribers, and SAS doctors, while also delivering formal and informal teaching to medical students, nursing staff, and allied health professionals. You will lead on the development of the Trusts palliative care education programme, ensuring that staff across the organisation are equipped to deliver excellent care.
In addition, you will be actively involved in research, clinical audit, and quality improvement initiatives. You will contribute to national benchmarking programmes such as NACEL, support recruitment to clinical trials, and collaborate with academic institutions to promote evidence-based practice. Your involvement in governance, risk management, and policy development will help shape the future of palliative care services both locally and nationally.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, you will play a central role in delivering high-quality, compassionate care to patients with complex palliative and end-of-life needs. You will act as the named consultant for patients in the specialist palliative care ward, providing expert clinical input across inpatient, outpatient, and advisory services. Your leadership will be vital in daily medical reviews, multidisciplinary team meetings, and in supporting integrated care across the Trust.
You will contribute strategically to the development and implementation of end-of-life care pathways, working closely with local hospices and community services to ensure seamless transitions and continuity of care. Your role will also involve supporting early identification and care planning for patients in acute settings such as A&E and CAU, and helping to embed advance care planning tools and best practice frameworks across the organisation.
Education and mentorship are key components of this role. You will supervise and support junior doctors, nurse prescribers, and SAS doctors, while also delivering formal and informal teaching to medical students, nursing staff, and allied health professionals. You will lead on the development of the Trusts palliative care education programme, ensuring that staff across the organisation are equipped to deliver excellent care.
In addition, you will be actively involved in research, clinical audit, and quality improvement initiatives. You will contribute to national benchmarking programmes such as NACEL, support recruitment to clinical trials, and collaborate with academic institutions to promote evidence-based practice. Your involvement in governance, risk management, and policy development will help shape the future of palliative care services both locally and nationally.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (or CCT) within 5 months of taking up the post or be accredited for inclusion on the General Medical Council's Specialist Register.
- Fully registered with the General Medical Council.
Experience
Essential
- Highly skilled in the management and treatment of palliative patients.
- Ability to manage competing demands in a busy acute environment and cope and manage own emotions under stress.
- Ability to empathise with patients and their families and to treat them with compassion and sensitivity.
Management
Essential
- Evidence of previous active participation in leadership and management activities.
- Understanding of NHS policy and delivery of national performance targets (including hospital acquired infections).
- Experience of managing budgets and staff.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (or CCT) within 5 months of taking up the post or be accredited for inclusion on the General Medical Council's Specialist Register.
- Fully registered with the General Medical Council.
Experience
Essential
- Highly skilled in the management and treatment of palliative patients.
- Ability to manage competing demands in a busy acute environment and cope and manage own emotions under stress.
- Ability to empathise with patients and their families and to treat them with compassion and sensitivity.
Management
Essential
- Evidence of previous active participation in leadership and management activities.
- Understanding of NHS policy and delivery of national performance targets (including hospital acquired infections).
- Experience of managing budgets and staff.
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
