Consultant Hepatologist

Job overview

Location: Aintree University Hospital

Contract Type: Substantive | Full Time

Salary: In line with NHS Consultant Terms and Conditions

University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (ULHG) is pleased to invite applications for an experienced Consultant Gastroenterologist / Hepatologist with significant experience in HPB  medicine and endoscopy to join our team at Aintree University Hospital. This post is a replacement following a recent retirement.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative and forward-thinking department in a high-acuity teaching hospital with a strong reputation for clinical excellence. Aintree Hospital is host to the regional Medical Hepatobiliary team with advanced endoscopy performed both with ERCP, cholangioscopy and advanced EUS guided therapeutics to support this service. Tertiary referrals are received from all areas of Cheshire and Merseyside as well as North Wales, the Isle of Man and parts of Lancashire and Staffordshire.

The successful candidate will be based at Aintree and will be supported to grow both clinical and academic interests within a dynamic, well-resourced environment.

Applicants must hold full GMC registration with a licence to practise, MRCP(UK) (or equivalent), and be on the Specialist Register (or within 6 months of CCT at interview).

We welcome applications from appropriately experienced consultants.

Informal enquiries and visits are encouraged.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will join a supportive consultant team, delivering high-quality, patient-centred care within the gastroenterology and hepatology services at Aintree University Hospital.

Clinical Care: Provide specialist hepatobiliary services, including inpatient, outpatient, and endoscopy care, with the opportunity to develop subspecialty expertise. The role will focus on delivering high-quality, patient-centred care for patients.

Inpatient Care: Participate in a rotational “hot week” model, leading care for the hepatobiliary and hepatology patients, supported by junior doctors and specialist nurses.

Outpatient Clinics & Endoscopy: Conduct regular clinics, offering diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy services. The role will also include opportunities for training and supervision of junior medical staff.

On-Call Rota: Participate in the 1:12 on-call rota, covering emergency gastroenterology cases, inpatient consultations, and acute referrals. Out-of-hours cover will be compensated with either an additional PA or time in lieu.

Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Involvement: Engage in multidisciplinary meetings, contributing to collaborative, pathway-based care in areas such as advanced HPB endoscopy, hepatobiliary cancers, and more.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Consultant Hepatologist at Aintree University Hospital

This is a full-time, substantive Consultant post in Hepatology at Aintree University Hospital, part of the University Hospitals Liverpool Group (UHLG). The post holder will join a dynamic and cohesive team of consultants committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care and driving continuous improvement across hepatology services.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Inpatient and Outpatient Care: Provide comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care in hepatology, focusing on liver diseases, including autoimmune liver diseases, liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and other hepatobiliary conditions.
• Rotational 'Hot Week' Model: Participate in the 2-week rotating 'hot week' inpatient model, where you will assume responsibility for consultant-led ward rounds and coordination of the multidisciplinary team for both Hepatology and luminal gastroenterology patients.
• On-Call Rota: Participate in a 1:12 out-of-hours rota, providing emergency hepatology cover, including inpatient consultations and out-of-hours endoscopy for gastrointestinal bleeding and other liver-related emergencies. On-call work is supported by a robust junior doctor and nursing structure.
• Endoscopy Lists: Deliver regular endoscopy lists as part of diagnostic and therapeutic hepatology, including liver biopsies and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and actively support the Trust’s commitment to quality standards and service delivery.
• Multidisciplinary Meetings: Contribute to and actively participate in multidisciplinary meetings (MDTs), including liver and hepatobiliary (HPB) cancers, autoimmune liver diseases, liver transplant, and other complex hepatology-related cases.

Teaching, Supervision, and Education

• Education and Supervision: Engage in the teaching and supervision of undergraduate medical students, junior medical staff, and other healthcare professionals in hepatology.
• Endoscopic Training: Actively contribute to endoscopic training, including mentoring medical trainees and nurse endoscopists. A Train the Trainer qualification will be required (or willingness to obtain it).
• Departmental Educational Programmes: Participate in departmental educational activities such as journal clubs, case-based discussions, and clinical governance activities, contributing to a culture of continuous professional development.
• Opportunities for Educational Roles: Opportunities are available to take on formal education roles or PGCE support for those interested in academic responsibilities.

Quality Improvement, Governance, and Research

• Clinical Governance: Participate in departmental audit, clinical effectiveness, and governance programmes to ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe care in line with national standards.
• Clinical Audit Projects: Undertake or support clinical audit projects focused on hepatology service priorities. Applicants with a track record of audits with published or presented outcomes will be encouraged and supported.
• Research Activity: Engage with and support clinical research activity in hepatology, with opportunities to contribute to or lead research projects, including liver disease, autoimmune liver diseases, hepatic cancers, and transplant medicine.
• Service Improvement Initiatives: Contribute to service improvement and transformation projects that enhance efficiency, patient outcomes, and innovation in hepatology.

Service Development and Leadership

• Service Development: Contribute to the ongoing development of hepatology services, including improving access, efficiency, and patient outcomes for hepatology and liver care pathways.
• Leadership and Strategy: Engage with Trust-wide strategies and participate in clinical leadership discussions related to the development of hepatology and endoscopy services. Opportunities to take on additional leadership roles in service development are available for those with an interest.
• Change Leadership: For candidates with experience in change leadership, strategic thinking, or mentoring, there will be opportunities to take on additional responsibilities that align with their strengths and career development.

Job Plan and Professional Support

• Job Plan: The post is offered as a 10 PA job plan, consisting of 8.5 Direct Clinical Care (DCC) and 1.5 Supporting Professional Activities (SPA). Additional SPA time may be available based on specific roles, such as education or research responsibilities, to be discussed during job plan negotiation.
• Office and Administrative Support: An office with IT facilities and appropriate administrative support will be provided. There is shared PA support, along with overflow typing support from the wider secretarial team as needed.
• Professional Development: Participate in annual appraisal and revalidation. The department and Trust offer continuous support for professional development in line with Royal College and GMC expectations.