Physicians Associate

The appointed physician associate will provide expert assistance to the consultants and registrars in the provision of a high quality care and support for patients attending Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The role will provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, crisis intervention, medications, staff consultation.

The post holder is expected to participate in all aspects of the care pathway as appropriate and will be expected to perform delegated duties with a high degree of clinical skill and knowledge, working within their relevant area.

The role will support other services as needed for patient flow as well as contributing to decision making for patients to be admitted, transferred or discharged.

The post holder will be required to work flexibly which will involve a shift pattern as part of a wider clinical team.

The post holder will be supervised by a designated consultant with regular meetings to support ongoing development within the role.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) provides good quality, safe and effective healthcare to the people of Cheshire and beyond.

The Trust, which manages Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford, was established as an NHS Trust in April 1991 and became a Foundation Trust in April 2008.

We employ almost 5,000 members of staff, provide around 540 hospital beds, with a range of services including accident and emergency, maternity, outpatients, therapies, and children's health.

The Trust is also part of Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP), a unique local health partnership that provides a range of community services for people across South Cheshire and Vale Royal.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, the Trust was recognised nationally for its ‘Be Safe Be EquiPPEd’ campaign, which aimed to make the Trust as safe as possible for staff and patients, through supporting the correct use of PPE.

The results in the 2020 national NHS Staff Survey showed improvements in all elements of the safety culture theme, with 92% of respondents feeling their role made a difference to our patients. We were also recognised nationally for our workforce health and wellbeing initiatives.

At Mid Cheshire, we value our staff and appreciate that in order to give our patients the best quality, compassionate care, we also need to look after our colleagues.

The appointed physician associate will provide expert assistance to the consultants and registrars in the provision of a high quality care and support for patients attending Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The role will provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, crisis intervention, medications, staff consultation.

The post holder is expected to participate in all aspects of the care pathway as appropriate and will be expected to perform delegated duties with a high degree of clinical skill and knowledge, working within their relevant area.
The role will support other services as needed for patient flow as well as contributing to decision making for patients to be admitted, transferred or discharged.
The post holder will be required to work flexibly which will involve a shift pattern as part of a wider clinical team.
The post holder will be supervised by a designated consultant with regular meetings to support ongoing development within the role.

SERVICE DELIVERY
1. To perform initial patient assessment and examination, initiate diagnostic process and interpret investigations and recommend initial treatment.
2. Take patient histories and perform physical examinations of a patient recording all information in the patients’ medical records.
3. To exercise a high degree of personal autonomy when assessing and planning care for patients with a range of presenting complaints.
4. To develop extensive specialist knowledge and experience, acting as a resource to the clinical team and allied health professionals.
5. Practice under the supervision of a named clinical consultant and other qualified staff as agreed.
6. Order and interpret diagnostic laboratory tests, radiological studies or various other therapies.
7. Discriminate between normal and abnormal findings to recognise early stages of serious medical, emotional or mental problems in the patient.
8. Coordinate consultants ward rounds, and take responsibility for following up resulting actions.
9. Ensure safe and effective handover of patients to the appropriate ward.
10. Work with the multi-disciplinary team in an appropriate management plan for the patient e.g. Social Services, Community Nursing Teams, and Clinical Nurse Specialists.
11. Instruct and counsel patients regarding mental and physical health, including:

- Dietary advice
- Disease and disease prevention
- Treatment
- Normal development

12. Refer and converse with appropriate specialists in regard to patient management.

**13. To perform di