Consultant with Hospital and Home Team (HAHT)

Job overview

An exciting new opportunity has arisen for a Consultant to join our Hospital at Home (HAH) and Acute Medicine services at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust.

This role has been created following the integration of Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), HAH, and community partners to deliver a seamless, patient-centred care pathway for our local population. Our newly established “SDEC Village”, co-located with the Frailty Assessment Unit and HAH, ensures timely care delivery, avoids unnecessary admissions, reduces duplication, and prioritises care for our sickest patients. Since its launch, numerous pathways have been developed in collaboration with the Health Care Partnership, improving admission avoidance, facilitating early discharge, and enabling patients to receive care in the comfort of their own homes.

The postholder will play an active role in both the Hospital at Home and Acute Medicine post-take processes. Hospital at Home post-take – reviewing patient lists to identify suitable candidates for safe, high-quality care at home, working closely with nursing and community teams to coordinate transfer. Acute Medicine post-take – supporting the standard post-take ward round, ensuring prompt senior review of new admissions, early decision-making, and timely onward care.

Main duties of the job

This is a 10PA job (with option of participation in medical on call - 1 in 16). It is envisaged that this post will evolve to attract more consultant colleagues to support HAH and existing SDEC services in the trust.

You will join the lead consultant and on the “hot week rota”, providing 5 weeks in six cover for HAH and will be responsible for coordinating the care of the patients on the Hospital At Home pathway. You will work with your team of experienced Nurses, Therapists, Pharmacist and Other allied health professionals to provide step up and step down care.

The aim of SDEC HAH is to achieve a reduction of avoidable hospital admissions and to facilitate earlier, safe discharge of patients from the acute services.

You will work closely with the Acute Medicine colleagues and colleagues in the Frailty Assessment Unit. There will be flexibility in working pattern with the Acute Medical team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide medical leadership and deliver holistic care to patients admitted under (HAH), working in close collaboration with the wider multi-professional team.
• Independently manage patients with a wide range of acute medical presentations, including initial assessment of surgical patients.
• Make early and appropriate clinical decisions for emergency admissions.
• Supervise admissions into the HAH service and promote patient flow from the Emergency Department and step-down from wards.
• Lead the Hospital At Home post-take process by reviewing patient lists, identifying appropriate candidates for HAH admission, and coordinating timely transfer of care.
• Participate in and provide consultant leadership for acute medical post-take ward rounds, ensuring timely senior review, clear management planning, and safe patient flow.
• Provide medical support to community teams through advice, domiciliary visits, or outpatient assessments.
• Liaise effectively with colleagues in both primary and secondary care to ensure continuity and quality of care.
• Support daily handover meetings and multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussions.
• Meet with and provide support to patients’ relatives, ensuring clear and compassionate communication.
• Ensure that resuscitation and end-of-life care decisions are managed appropriately and sensitively.