Locum Consultant in Cardiology

Applications are invited for the above full time post for this 660 bed acute hospital serving a local population of approximately 400,000. This appointment will be made in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of Service for Hospital Medical and Dental Staff (England) 2002.

The Cardiology Service Line is supported by 13 Consultants and their junior teams who manage patients both within the inpatient cardiology bed base and via delivery of Needs Based Care, in-reaching within the Emergency Department, Emergency Assessment Units and Medical Stay Wards. The Service Line consists of a 30-bedded Cardiology Unit with 10 acute (CCU) and 20 stepdown beds, a Catheter lab providing coronary angiography, PCI and pacing and a full compliment of non-invasive diagnostics and specialist echocardiography. There is on site access to Myocardial Perfusion Scanning and CT Coronary Angiography. A range of Cardiology clinics are provided on site, both Consultant and Nurse led, including those for general cardiology, heart failure and chest pain as well as joint clinics for Cardiology-Obstetrics, specialist arrhythmia sessions and hot clinics to support the delivery of Needs Based Care.

Applications are invited for the post of Locum Consultant in Cardiology.

Key tasks;
- Maintenance of the highest clinical standards in the management of all patients presenting to the Hospital.
- To share, with colleagues in the Cardiology Department the management of all adult patients with Cardiology disorders referred to the Trust.
- To participate in a cardiology on-call rota as required providing specialist, timely advice in line with the seven day service national agenda and local service need.
- To actively participate in both departmental and Trust matters concerning quality and safety governance.
- To have responsibility for and actively participate in continuing professional development (CPD).

Our 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. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

The appointee will join the Cardiology department in the delivery of clinical excellence within the practice of general Cardiology.

The appointee will participate in the provision of seven day cover for the Cardiology bed base and cardiology on-call. It will also involve in-reaching at the front door to support senior specialist decision making.

The post-holder and other consultant colleagues will be expected to cover each other’s absences on annual or study leave.

A Needs Based Care (NBC) model is embedded across the Medicine Clinical Service Lines (CSLs) where timely allocation is predicated on a patient’s clinical need and not on age. Early allocation of patients to a speciality team according to their clinical need, improved continuity of care across seven days, with mínimal handovers and an identified single responsible consultant is associated with safer practice, improved clinical outcomes and higher levels of patient and workforce satisfaction

Weekly work commitments will be within the European directives on working hours and will also be influenced by the Royal College of Physicians recommendations, the new consultant contract and specified in the Job Plan. The senior cardiologists in the department will act as mentors for new consultants, along with the other consultants in their absence. All clinical issues are openly discussed at formal and informal meetings.

The allocation of programmed activities will be based on 8.5 for direct clinical care and 1.5 for supporting professional activities. The detailed job plans will be agreed in consultation with the Clinical Director and the Consultants in the Department, with the approval of the Medical Director and Chief Executive or his/ her representative.

The job plans will be a prospective agreement that sets out a consultant’s duties, responsibilities and objectives for the coming year. It will cover all aspects of a consultant’s professional practice including clinical work, teaching, research, education and managerial responsibilities. It will provide a clear schedule of commitments, both internal and external. In addition, it will provide personal objectives, including details of links to wider service objectives, and details of the support required by the consultant to fulfil the job plan and the objectives.

The pattern of work may change in the future to meet local changing needs and annual review meetings will take place in line with the new Consultant Contract, job planning and appraisal arrangements.

The Luton and Dunstable University Hospital (L&D) has always been renowned for its friendly atmosphere and goo