Consultants in Rheumatology

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Consultants in Rheumatology to join a growing, dynamic and forward‑thinking Rheumatology service at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. There are three consultant posts available: one cross‑site post based across Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and two posts based at the West Middlesex site.

The candidates will join a faculty at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex Hospital site, which currently consists of Consultants, a Specialty Doctor, a Specialist Registrar and a Nurse Consultant, working with a multidisciplinary team. In recent years the service has developed with additional Rheumatology Consultant time, additional Rheumatology Nurse Specialists and an increase in Specialist Rheumatology Pharmacist and Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner support. The appointed individual is expected to uphold the Trust values to ensure the delivery of the highest quality care to patients.

Main duties of the job

• Outpatient activity

Consultant led outpatient clinics each week as detailed in the job plan. There are nurse led clinics including for patient education and disease modifying drug monitoring to support the outpatient service. There is a pharmacist prescriber to support prescription of DMARD drugs. There is an Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioner providing a weekly Spondyloarthritis clinic within the Rheumatology Outpatients.

• Inpatient activity

Rheumatology patients are admitted under the medical teams, with appropriate input provided from the Rheumatology SPR and Consultants. Rheumatology SPR and Consultants also provide advice around management of rheumatology-related problems in other patients on request, including patients on the Ambulatory & Emergency Care Unit as well as wards.

• MDT meetings

Attendance with appropriate contribution is expected at the radiology/rheumatology MDT, attended by specialist musculoskeletal consultant radiologists and trainees, and at the fortnightly Complex Rheumatology/Connective Tissue Disease/Vasculitis meetings.

• Departmental meetings

Attendance with appropriate contribution is expected at the weekly Grand Round and Rheumatology Academic Meetings, as part of CPD. Attendance with appropriate contribution is expected at Governance Meetings.

Please see full job descriptions for complete details.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will:

• Participate in, and provide committed Rheumatology outpatient care, and inpatient support.
• Participate in the GIM (General Medical) rota for the hospital.
• Facilitate access to a full range of inpatient and outpatient Rheumatology services.
• Be expected to cover for absent Consultant colleagues to allow for annual and study leave.
• Make collaboration between hospital and community services as efficient as possible, supporting discharge from hospital where appropriate and ensuring appropriate follow up arrangements.
• Provide peer group support, supervision, further education and professional development essential to the welfare and effectiveness of trainees in Rheumatology, General Internal Medicine and the allied professions.
• Be educationally responsible for supporting training and appraisal of junior staff
• Demonstrate a continuing commitment to medical audit and service development in Rheumatology.
• Demonstrate commitment to engagement in clinical trials in Rheumatology as opportunities arise.
• Develop communication and other non-clinical aspects of Rheumatology services.
• Actively participate in undergraduate teaching of clinical medical students attached to the department