Physicians Associate

We are looking to recruit enthusiastic Physician associates to support our rapid evolving and exciting general medical service at Bedford Hospital which is part of the newly merged Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Innovation in the delivery of general medical care is a key requirement of this role.

The physician associate post have been developed to facilitate the clinical care of medical patients looked after by the four medical teams; cardiology, respiratory, gastroenterology and endocrinology at Bedford Hospital. The posts represent an exciting opportunity to join the dynamic clinical teams in the specialty medical unit. The post holder is accountable for ensuring that patient care is of a high standard at all times and that standards of care and treatment meet the department’s requirements.

This post will cover the general medical patients from 900- 17:00 hours.

The post holder is expected to work within the Specialty Medical Team to take forward best practice and is expected to be an excellent role model and ambassador for Physicians Associates and to represent the department at local and external meetings as appropriate.

They will participate in a weekend on call rota with other Physician Associates which currently is 1 in 8 (9 to 5 PM Saturday and Sunday) in General Medicine.

The PA will be supervised by a designated consultant with individual mentor to overview career development
- To participate in ward rounds and visits to individual patients as well as discussion with their relatives.
- To assess and examine acute medical patients, present them, initiate and interpret investigations and recommend treatment.
- To help with the administrative processes involved in discharging patients before lunch whenever possible in keeping with our “Home for Lunch” campaign.
- To contribute to achieving and maintaining any targets related to acute medical subspecialty Patients.
- To support work with the medical subspecialty related to national audits.
- To support recruitment into clinical research being carried out in the department.
- To manage a caseload of specific Medical patients as determined by the consultant physician, exercising a high level of professional judgement and expertise when delivering care. This will include taking medical histories, undertaking physical examinations, diagnosing and explaining conditions during consultations.
- To communicate with GPs and other health professionals that may have had contact with the patient.
- To contribute to the development of efficient pathways of care in accordance with current best practice and national guidelines.
- To be an active participant in the development of Specialty Medicine through the Trust

Bedford Hospital was erected on the site of the Bedford General Infirmary. The Infirmary was originally opened in 1803 providing accommodation for 38 patients. The hospital was financed from money left by Samuel Whitbread of Cardington, the cost of the building being £5,800 at that time. Portraits of some of the founders may still be seen in the main administrative block. At this time the hospital was renamed Bedford General Hospital (South Wing) and in conjunction with Bedford General Hospital (North Wing), a hospital of 220 beds, formed Bedford General Hospital, providing a district hospital service for north Bedfordshire. Bedford Hospital has continued to expand with extensive redevelopment and new builds.

Clinical Services

The Trust provides a full range of acute services, with beds for Care of the Elderly, ENT, General Medicine, General Surgery, Gynaecology, Neonatal, Obstetrics, Oncology, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Vascular Surgery, Breast Surgery and Urology.

There is a full Level 2 A&E Department, with a recently opened Ambulatory Emergency Care Unit. The Critical Care Complex provides both High Dependency and Intensive Care beds to a maximum capacity of 12 beds. Other clinical services include Cardiology, with pacing facilities in the coronary care unit; Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, including a Laser Treatment Centre.
- To undertake any other duties that may be required and are consistent with the responsibility and grade of this post
- To be accountable for care given and to comply with the Fitness to Practice and Code of Conduct standard as established by the UK Managed Voluntary Register for Physician Associates (and subsequently the appropriate statutory regulating body when in place). To work within the framework of the scope of professional practice.
- To take and pass the national re-certification examination every five years, as recommended by the National Examination Sub Committee of the UKUBPAE (UK Universities Board of Physician Associate Education) and subsequently as required by the statutory regulating body when in place.
- To Contribute to identifying gaps in existing Specialty Medicine services and service improvements to benefit patients.
- All staff are required to be appraised by the