Physicians Associate

**Key Relationships with staff includes**:

- Consultants
- Matrons
- General, Vascular & Urological Surgery SHO & SpR doctors, Nurses
- Clinical Site Management Teams
- Rapid Response Team & Discharge Facilitators
- Health Care Assistants
- Reception Staff

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest trusts in the country, serving a population of 1.2 million people. Our newly formed Trust, comprising acute hospital sites at Broomfield in Chelmsford, Basildon and Southend, is determined to provide the best health services for its local population. We are a well-led, high-performing and innovative organisation working in the best interests of the people we serve.

With a workforce of approximately 15,000 staff, we can now do more and go further in delivering health services to our local communities.

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

‘one team, working together’

Clinical Duties
- Involvement in departmental audits and quality improvement work
- Deliver high quality, safe and effective advanced care, including administrating prescribed medications and treatment in line with agreed protocols and pathways
- Effectively communicate with patients, relatives and members of the public on complex care issues, ensuring empathy, sensitivity and compassion.
- To communicate with GP’s and other Health Professionals that may have had contact with surgical patients.
- Provide clear expert knowledge on health education and promote healthy lifestyle to patients and carers in line with clinical governance and the trust policies
- Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records and update Trust patient systems as required
- Place the patient’s experience at the core of service delivery through implementation and continued monitoring of essence of care standards and patient satisfaction surveys
- Work collaboratively with the PALS and Patient council to investigate and resolve patients concerns/complaints, Involving ward staff in developing actions and progress development meetings
- Ensure clinical safety at all times using recognised reporting tools and investigation
- Provide clinical and professional advice and maintain professional relationships in supporting the multidisciplinary team within and outside of the specialty
- Assess and evaluate treatment plans and interventions using agreed patient specific pathways and protocols, ensuring consistent high standard of patientcare, acute surgical department patients, present them, initiate and interpret investigations and recommend treatment.
- Assist in the effective management of the area by promoting safe systems of work and identifying areas where changes in practice would achieve a more effective outcome.
- Ensure financial and physical resources are used efficiently and effectively and all equipment used in the care of patients with clinical efficiency and effectiveness and complies with local expectations and standards including ensuring a safe patient environment. Whilst appropriately maintaining these are solely used only by those individuals with the appropriate training.
- To develop a sound working knowledge of the hospital plans for managing large scale emergencies including trauma, epidemic illness, chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear (CBRN) contamination and be prepared to support shift leader, to initiate the major incident plan within the department.
- Support work within General Surgery, Vascular and Urology related to department and national audits and to support recruitment into clinical research being carried out in the department.
- Be an active participant in the development of efficient pathways of care in accordance with current best practice and national guidelines for the development of General Surgery, Vascular and Urology through the Trust.
- Contribute to achieving and maintaining Key Performance Indicators for the General Surgery, Vascular and Urology Contribute and identify gaps in existing General Surgery, Vascular & Urology services and service improvements to benefit patients
- To work within the framework of the scope of professional practice

Policy and Service Development
- Ensure clinical care is evidence based and adheres to local protocols.
- To identify, assess and meet the educational needs of the patient and their family.
- To identify the educational and training needs of the multi professional team and to facilitate and participate in education provision to meet those needs.
- Promote/ develop and maintain a culture within the Department which challenges and questions practice and promotes the quality of thinking amongst practitioners.
- Facilitate staff to reach their maximum potential through continuous professional / personal development.
- Work creatively to develop practice and new ways of working, taking the lead in the chan