Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Specialty Doctor in Elderly Medicine

The closing date is 31 October 2025

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic Specialty doctor to join our Elderly Medicine Department within Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Specialty Doctor will work under the supervision of and be responsible to the Clinical Director for Elderly Medicine.

The Department of Elderly Medicine at Luton is supported by 15 WTE Consultants, 8 Specialty Doctors and their junior teams. Significant investment has occurred in DME over the last five years that reflects the valued contribution of the DME service to the management of frail, complex and vulnerable patients.

There are 5 'base' DME wards: wards 14, 15, 18, 19F (Frailty unit) and 19R (rehab) as well as ward 23 (Orthogeriatrics), with a total of 134 inpatient beds. Within the Bedford site there are 4 inpatient wards in addition to the Archer Unit rehabilitation centre totaling 19 patients.

The team are supported by Nurse Specialists in Dementia, Falls and Frailty.

There are specialist OPD in Falls, Syncope and Parkinson's supported by specialist nurses.

Each of the DME consultants have additional lead responsibilities: Dementia/ delirium lead; Falls lead; Frailty lead; Audit lead; Governance lead; Educational lead; Movement disorders service lead. We have a well-established Clinical Ethics Committee.

We have developed a successful Orthogeriatric model of care and with the support of our colleagues in the Surgical Division, have a fully established Surgical Liaison service.

Main duties of the job

Be required to provide a senior level of support to the department.

Attend ward & board rounds both with the Consultants and with the Specialty Training Doctors / Foundation Year 2 doctors. The Specialty Doctor may be responsible for unaccompanied ward rounds.

Work under the supervision of and be responsible to his/her respective consultant, or the on call consultant and, ultimately the Clinical Director for Medicine for the Elderly

The timetable will be reviewed by the Clinical Director as part of the annual appraisal process.

Regular contribution to departmental meetings, Journal club and Medical Grand rounds of the hospital.

Undertake, exceptionally, to perform additional duties in occasional emergency and unforeseen circumstances.

In case of difficulties of any kind, the Specialty Doctor will seek the advice of the appropriate consultant. The Specialty Doctor is not expected to participate in any work beyond their level of expertise.

The appointee will undertake, exceptionally, to be available for such irregular commitments, outside normally rostered duties as are essential for patient care.

Communicate with patients, their relatives and carers, members of the multidisciplinary team, other specialties, GPs and the wider community services.

Cover other wards within Bedford Hospital/offsite units including the Archer Unit Bedford if required.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.

Our Values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Details

Date posted

17 October 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Specialty Doctor

Salary

£61,542 to £99,216 a year PA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-M-DME-198

Job locations

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Luton

LU4 0DZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Be required to provide a senior level of support to the department.

Attend ward & board rounds both with the Consultants and with the Specialty Training Doctors / Foundation Year 2 doctors. The Specialty Doctor may be responsible for unaccompanied ward rounds.

Work under the supervision of and be responsible to his/her respective consultant, or the on call consultant and, ultimately the Clinical Director for Medicine for the Elderly

The timetable will be reviewed by the Clinical Director as part of the annual appraisal process.

Regular contribution to departmental meetings, Journal club and Medical Grand rounds of the hospital.

So far as is consistent with the proper discharge of the above duties undertake to deputise from time to time for absence colleagues

Undertake, exceptionally, to perform additional duties in occasional emergency and unforeseen circumstances.

In case of difficulties of any kind, the Specialty Doctor will seek the advice of the appropriate consultant. The Specialty Doctor is not expected to participate in any work beyond their level of expertise.

The appointee will undertake, exceptionally, to be available for such irregular commitments, outside normally rostered duties as are essential for patient care.

Communicate with patients, their relatives and carers, members of the multidisciplinary team, other specialties, GPs and the wider community services.

Cover other wards within Bedford Hospital/offsite units including the Archer Unit Bedford if required.

Please see attached JD

Job description

Job responsibilities

Be required to provide a senior level of support to the department.

Attend ward & board rounds both with the Consultants and with the Specialty Training Doctors / Foundation Year 2 doctors. The Specialty Doctor may be responsible for unaccompanied ward rounds.

Work under the supervision of and be responsible to his/her respective consultant, or the on call consultant and, ultimately the Clinical Director for Medicine for the Elderly

The timetable will be reviewed by the Clinical Director as part of the annual appraisal process.

Regular contribution to departmental meetings, Journal club and Medical Grand rounds of the hospital.

So far as is consistent with the proper discharge of the above duties undertake to deputise from time to time for absence colleagues

Undertake, exceptionally, to perform additional duties in occasional emergency and unforeseen circumstances.

In case of difficulties of any kind, the Specialty Doctor will seek the advice of the appropriate consultant. The Specialty Doctor is not expected to participate in any work beyond their level of expertise.

The appointee will undertake, exceptionally, to be available for such irregular commitments, outside normally rostered duties as are essential for patient care.

Communicate with patients, their relatives and carers, members of the multidisciplinary team, other specialties, GPs and the wider community services.

Cover other wards within Bedford Hospital/offsite units including the Archer Unit Bedford if required.

Please see attached JD

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Medical Degree
  • Relevant Postgraduate qualification
  • Full MRCP

Desirable

  • Additional relevant clinical experience

Registration

Essential

  • Full GMC Registration
  • GMC Licence to Practice (before commencement of employment)

Clinical experience

Essential

  • Excellent all round experience of DGH work
  • Minimum of 4 years post graduate clinical experience with minimum of 2 years in Elderly Medicine
  • Ability to work independently, but aware of own limitations and know when to seek advice from senior colleagues
  • Performing a comprehensive assessment of a patient with acute symptoms.
  • A comprehensive knowledge of adverse drug reactions, drug interactions and how these might be affected by different diseases.
  • up-to-date ALS.

Desirable

  • ALS instructors certificate

Clinical effectiveness

Essential

  • Understand the principles of audits

Desirable

  • Understanding CPD
  • Experience of audits

Personnel Skills

Essential

  • Capacity to organise oneself and prioritise own work. Demonstrates punctuality, preparation and self-discipline. Understands importance of information technology.
  • Flexible attitude, team player with good management skills
  • Ability to co-operate in a democratic team environment
  • capacity to operate under pressure. Demonstrates initiative and resilience to cope with the setbacks & adapt to rapidly changing circumstances capacity to use logical /lateral thinking to solve problems & make decisions.

Teaching

Essential

  • Interest in and ability to contribute to teaching and learning of more junior doctors and medical students

Desirable

  • Publications and presentations

Clinical Goverance

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles and elements of clinical governance.

Personnel Circumstances

Essential

  • Fit to undertake the role with satisfactory Occupational Health clearance
  • Satisfactory DBS clearance
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Medical Degree
  • Relevant Postgraduate qualification
  • Full MRCP

Desirable

  • Additional relevant clinical experience

Registration

Essential

  • Full GMC Registration
  • GMC Licence to Practice (before commencement of employment)

Clinical experience

Essential

  • Excellent all round experience of DGH work
  • Minimum of 4 years post graduate clinical experience with minimum of 2 years in Elderly Medicine
  • Ability to work independently, but aware of own limitations and know when to seek advice from senior colleagues
  • Performing a comprehensive assessment of a patient with acute symptoms.
  • A comprehensive knowledge of adverse drug reactions, drug interactions and how these might be affected by different diseases.
  • up-to-date ALS.

Desirable

  • ALS instructors certificate

Clinical effectiveness

Essential

  • Understand the principles of audits

Desirable

  • Understanding CPD
  • Experience of audits

Personnel Skills

Essential

  • Capacity to organise oneself and prioritise own work. Demonstrates punctuality, preparation and self-discipline. Understands importance of information technology.
  • Flexible attitude, team player with good management skills
  • Ability to co-operate in a democratic team environment
  • capacity to operate under pressure. Demonstrates initiative and resilience to cope with the setbacks & adapt to rapidly changing circumstances capacity to use logical /lateral thinking to solve problems & make decisions.

Teaching

Essential

  • Interest in and ability to contribute to teaching and learning of more junior doctors and medical students

Desirable

  • Publications and presentations

Clinical Goverance

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles and elements of clinical governance.

Personnel Circumstances

Essential

  • Fit to undertake the role with satisfactory Occupational Health clearance
  • Satisfactory DBS clearance

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).

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.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Luton

LU4 0DZ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Luton

LU4 0DZ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Director for Elderly Medicine

Dissan Ranjith

Dissan.Ranjith@bedsft.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

17 October 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Specialty Doctor

Salary

£61,542 to £99,216 a year PA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-M-DME-198

Job locations

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Luton

LU4 0DZ


Supporting documents

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