Consultant Rheumatologist

Job overview

This is a great opportunity to be part of the Rheumatology Department who are seeking a Consultant Rheumatologist to join a team of 4 Consultants, 2 Specialist Registrar, 1 GP Registrar, specialist nursing staff and fully functional wider MDT, supported by input from all associated specialties.

This is a new post to cover increasing demand in Rheumatology and we are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and forward-thinking physician to join an evolving dynamic department.  The post is for a full-time contract (10 PAs) but the option to work flexibly (less than full time) is available. The job is available with immediate start.

The appointee will be required to offer the appropriate level of skills in general Rheumatology whilst expertise in a sub-specialist area complementary to those offered by the present Consultants would also be desirable.

We are actively involved in research as well as offering educationally supervised training opportunities and encourage learning and development using the NHS ePortfolio.  We are involved in working with our junior and middle grade doctors to develop their skills and provide curriculum experience to achieve the necessary competencies.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will be based at Doncaster Royal Infirmary however, you will be expected to contribute to the delivery and development of Rheumatology Services across all Trust sites.

To maintain the highest clinical standards in Rheumatological conditions.

To work with colleagues both medical and nursing to improve and advance the service.

To provide outpatient and inpatient services in Rheumatology, including  specialised pathways for Early Inflammatory Arthritis, Giant Cell Arteritis.

To share will medical colleagues the responsibility for teaching and training of trainees, junior medical staff, nursing staff and medical students.

To be responsible for ensuring active participation in continuing professional development

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Department was established in 1978 with the appointment of a full-time consultant in Rheumatology. Over the years, it has expanded to 4 Consultant Rheumatologists and 1 Associate Specialist.

Both inpatient and outpatient services are offered at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI) and Bassetlaw Hospital (BDGH). There are satellite outpatient clinics at Montagu Hospital in Mexborough (which helps serve patients from the Dearne Valley region in particular) and Retford Hospital. Rheumatology inpatient facilities are shared with the Renal inpatients in Ward 32, away from the main medical and surgical wards. There is a GP registrar (StR) and a Rheumatology Specialty Registrar who provide junior doctor cover. The Rheumatology Specialty Registrar may have general medical commitment, which is dependent on the stage of training. The GP registrar is shared between Rheumatology and Dermatology.

Day case Rheumatology takes place at Rheumatology Day Unit at DRI and Medical Day Unit at BDGH.

Dedicated specialist physiotherapy and occupational therapy staff provide care for outpatients and also advise ward based therapists on care of Rheumatology inpatients. The physiotherapists have a hydrotherapy pool for our patients based at DRI. There is sessional input from chiropody and specialist podiatry service. The hospital has a comprehensive orthotics service.

There are six specialist nurses (4.2 WTE) across the Trust providing the appropriate dedicated input. They run clinics for disease assessment / management, education, biological therapies, and osteoporosis service. The department at DRI has a computerised system (TAMONITOR), established in October 1999, for monitoring disease modifying drugs. This is run, under medical supervision, by the specialist nurses with clerical support allowing safe and cost effective monitoring of the large and growing numbers of patients. There are recently updated and agreed shared care protocols in place with the CCG with regards to prescription and monitoring of DMARDs and immunosuppressives. A telephone helpline run by specialist nurses provides further support for the patients.

There are two DEXA scanners in the Trust, one at DRI and the other at BDGH. We provide clinical reports on DEXA results and they are currently reported by Dr Stevens, Dr Al-Khoffash and Dr Ramanath (Care of the Elderly consultant with special interest in osteoporosis). The Trust’s current metabolic bone and osteoporosis clinic is run at BDGH. However, due to the expanding need there is a plan to develop this service at DRI. There are very good working relationships with the nationally recognised Metabolic Bone Centre at the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield. The successful appointee, if interested in osteoporosis, would be able to have their job plan reviewed to help develop the expected metabolic bone service at DRI.

The department work closely with other related specialities and have established joint meetings/clinics:

• Combined obstetric-rheumatology clinic with Dr Yin (obstetrician) – monthly
• Combined radiology-rheumatology meeting – monthly
• Combined rheumatology-renal meeting – every 2 months
• Combined rheumatology-respiratory meeting – every 3 to 4 months

In addition, we have established an early inflammatory arthritis service with a pathway which aims to meet NICE standards for assessment and treatment of inflammatory arthritis. All consultants are involved in this service and patients in the pathway are pooled together. There is great teamwork within this service as all consultants review each other’s patients who are in this pathway.

For the full details of the Job description and Person specification please see the attached documentation.