Junior Clinical Fellow Paediatrics

This post provides an opportunity to work in a brand new, state of the art, modern hospital (the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury). The hospital is all single roomed, and offers all the facilities and services of a large District General Hospital. It opened fully in September 2011.

The paediatric services at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is organised with all in-patient paediatric services being located in the new Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. Out-patient, day-case and assessment unit facilities are located both at the new Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury and at Maidstone Hospital.

This post will be mainly based at the New Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury, with some daytime duties at Maidstone.

The Trusts has two vacancies on the Paediatric junior doctor rota. The posts would suit someone who requires experience in Paediatrics as part of their own VTS programme, or someone who is looking for a first post in paediatrics with the aim of following a paediatric career.

This posts are part of the junior doctor paediatric rota at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust which comprises 17 doctors. The 17 doctors include F2s, GPVTS and paediatric trainees at ST1 and ST3 level. All doctors work the same rota, which covers neonatal unit, delivery suite, postnatal ward, paediatric ward and paediatric assessment units in rotation. There are also shifts allocated to attend outpatient clinics..

This is a whole-time post in paediatrics employed by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

The working pattern is distributed over an 17 week cycle. During that period there is the equivalent of two weeks of night shifts (8.30pm to 9.30am) split into two spells, Monday to Thursday and Friday to Sunday. A normal day is between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm. In addition doctors will work some late shifts (until 9pm) both at Pembury Hospital and the assessment unit at Maidstone. The junior doctors provide prospective cover for annual and study leave for the other doctors on the junior doctor rota. Leave cannot be taken when the doctor would be working nights or weekends, so prospective cover only extends to missed evening sessions, equivalent to less than 2 hours per week on average.

The appointment is to the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and the post is mainly based at the new Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury, Tunbridge Wells.

The Paediatric department at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury consists of the outpatient department, a general paediatric medical ward (Hedgehog ward) with 23 cot and bed spaces, a Level 2 neonatal unit with 18 cots( including three cots staffed and equipped to provide neonatal intensive care), and a assessment unit (Woodlands) with 18 beds. There is a fully functioning A&E department, with all associated facilities and specialities. The hospital has been selected as a major trauma centre.

The Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury delivers approx 6000 babies, and the neonatal unit at admits approx 400 babies per year. The Neonatal Unit cares for babies from 27 weeks gestation upwards. There is a good working relationship with the neonatal unit at the Medway Maritime Hospital which provides level 3 care for the Kent neonatal network.

There are approximately 4000 paediatric admissions to the inpatient unit each year with additional children seen in assessment units. Approximately 11000 children are seen in the outpatient departments (at Pembury and Maidstone).

The post holder will be expected to work closely with the nursing staff and allied health professionals as part of multi-disciplinary team to provide effective care and will supervise the junior doctors. They will take a full part in departmental clinical governance and audit activity.

So far as is consistent with the proper discharge of the above duties the post holder undertakes to deputise from time to time for absent colleagues.

The post holder undertakes, exceptionally, to perform additional duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances.

The post holder undertakes, exceptionally, to be available for such irregular commitments outside normally rostered duties as are essential for continuity of patient care.

Continuing professional development

The post holder undertakes to fully participate in the RCPCH programme for continuing professional development.

That participation will be facilitated by a study leave allowance of 10 days a year. One of the consultants will be mutually identified as your mentor. In addition the paediatric tutor, currently Dr Halpin, or clinical tutor, are available for educational or careers counselling.

The post-graduate centre and main library are located at Pembury Hospital.