Consultant in Diabetes & Endocrinology

Job overview

We are looking to recruit a dynamic substantive Consultant to work in our established Diabetes and Endocrinology Department at Bedford Hospital, which is part of the merged Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The appointment is for a full-time replacement post, however we would encourage anyone looking for flexible working or less than full time to apply as this may be accommodated. The role is to provide general endocrine and diabetes outpatient services at an exciting time with increases in diabetes technology and patient autonomy, changing ways of managing outpatient endocrinology as well as being part of the consultant team providing general inpatient care to the firm’s general medical patients. We welcome colleagues with current sub-speciality interests and are very supportive of colleagues who are at an early stage in their consultant career and wish to develop a specialist interest. The appointee will join a multidisciplinary team of Doctors, Nurses, Dieticians, Podiatrists, secretarial and support staff providing specialist inpatient and outpatient Diabetes and Endocrine services as well as General Medical inpatient services to the local population.

Main duties of the job

Outpatients. Clinics would include general endocrinology and diabetes clinics depending upon the post-holder’s interests and the clinical needs of the department.  There is opportunity to take a leading role, for instance in Endocrinology. The Post-holder would be expected to provide specialist consultant advice for other members of the department, other departments within the hospital and local GPs as required.  Some cross cover for other consultants’ leave in the department is expected (for example support for inpatient diabetes).  The post-holder would also share in the review of departmental results, advice and guidance to GPs and triage of GP referrals.

Inpatients These duties are shared on a rotational basis with 3 other consultants from the department, 13 weeks/year per consultant but divided flexibly into 2-3 week blocks.  Includes daily consultant ward rounds of general medical inpatients (approx. 15-20), (sited on 2 adjacent wards which are shared with cardiology) and specialist referrals for other medical and surgical teams.  When on ward weeks, other clinical commitments are reduced.

Additional duties include:

• To contribute to departmental and National audits and take part in clinical governance activities
• To contribute to informal (ward based) HCP teaching and training as may be required including training of resident doctors and medical students during ward rounds and clinics.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A 10 PA week consists of 8.5 PAs direct clinical care and 1.5 PAs for Supporting Professional Activity (SPA).

The department has a flexible approach to clinic activities and flexes some clinics depending upon demand; however the total clinical time would remain constant.  Only clinical/ward commitments have been specified. The year is based upon 42 working weeks per individual consultant and clinics are annualized.

Outpatient work

Endocrine and Diabetes clinics would be agreed with the Post holder depending upon their  interest and needs of the department with the total clinical sessions to fit within job plan but would normally include 1 - 2 each of general Endocrine clinics and diabetes clinics per week plus a specialist clinic. Outpatient work is reduced when the consultant is doing ward duties. Endocrine clinics are based on 30 minute slots for most new patients (occasional thyroid new clinics are 20 minute slots) and 15 minutes for follow-ups keeping the ratio of New:FU approx. 1:3. The time slots for Diabetes Clinics depends on the type of clinic but ranges from 20 to 30 minutes per patient.

The consultant would have the opportunity to become trained in DAFNE and support the structured Education courses, if this training has not already been obtained. The appointee would be expected to be able to make full use of the latest technology used by our diabetes patients; training can be provided.

To provide support for the department depending upon availability of other consultants in the department (eg for urgent clinical queries, result reviews and podiatry review requests).

To provide clinical support to other AHPs including the endocrine nurse and her clinics, the diabetes specialist nurses and podiatrists.

Inpatient work:

On a rotational basis with other consultants in the department:

To provide full consultant ward round of all the firm’s inpatients 3 times a week (more depending upon clinical need), to assess all new and sick patients to the firm on a daily basis (Mon-Fri) and to perform, at least, a verbal review (board round) of all patients every day in the morning at the ward MDT meeting. To ensure a member of the team attends the daily 0830 AAU handover meeting.

To provide specialist advice/see referrals from other inpatient teams.

To provide supervision to the junior doctor team and flexible consultant input depending upon the seniority level of the available juniors.

When on the wards, to provide support to the inpatient diabetes nursing team if the lead inpatient consultant is not available. There maybe changes in the level of ward duties depending on the needs of the department and on discussion with the Clinical Lead/CD.

There is a weekend rota providing telephone support for the diabetes inpatient specialist nurses (currently 1 hour per day, weekends and bank holidays in rotation with other consultants), in addition the team covers a short ward round on the base wards on bank holidays and these are paid as extra work and can be discussed with the CD.

MDT/clinical meetings:

Diabetes MDT/clinical meeting once a month,

Thyroid MDT once a month

Endocrine clinical meeting once a month

If involved in the Young Adult/Transition Diabetes Service, 2 per month

Pituitary SMDT as required

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Please note that all shortlisted candidates will be required to attend a virtual pre-interview assessment process.

Closing Date: 21.12.2025

Assessment Date: Week Commencing  05.01.2026

Interview Date: 19.01.2026