Locum Appointment for Service in Rheumatology

Job details

• Job reference: 251277
• Salary: Clinical Fellow (£45,504 - £71,550)
• Job closing date: 17/06/2026
• Job Type: Medical and Dental
• Location: Western General Hospital
• Employment type: Fixed-term
• Hours Per Week: 40 hours per week
• Job posted date: 12/06/2026
• Employer (NHS Board): NHS Lothian
• Department: Rheumatology

Locum Appointment for Service in RheumatologyWestern General Hospital

Reference - 251277

NHS Lothian is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best.

To this end, NHS Lothian welcomes applications from all sections of society.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

Applications are welcome for the above fixed term, full /(40 hours per week) post based in Western General Hospital.

The post-holder should be fully committed to flexible working within a team structure in order to allow the service to adapt to the increasing demands currently being placed on the rheumatology service. The post-holder will be expected to work with the service management team and professional colleagues to ensure that the service runs efficiently and effectively. Furthermore, the post-holder will be expected to adhere to the agreed policies and procedures drawn up by NHS Lothian, to participate in annual appraisal, revalidation and job planning. Appropriate secretarial support and office accommodation will be provided.

The post-holder:

• Will contribute to the care of adults undergoing acute Rheumatology in-patient assessment, rehabilitation, outpatient assessment, and continuing care in Lothian.

• Will contribute to ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings at the Western General Hospital.

• Will participate in the specialist registrar duty rota.

• Will share cover for absent colleagues on annual leave or study leave by prior arrangement, and for those on short-term unplanned sick leave.

In addition, the post-holder may be required to provide duties at other hospitals administered by NHS Lothian, through negotiation, if necessary.

Out of Hours Commitments:There are no out of hours commitments but the post-holder will be required to contribute to the on call duty rota between 09.00 and 18.00 weekdays and 09.00-12.00 weekends and public holidays approximately 1 week in 5. There will be the option of doing Hospital at Night shifts and ability to count it towards training, i.e., as a LAT.

In-patient and day-patient facilities The service currently has a limited number of in-patient beds admitted in the medical wards. There is a day unit (Ward 75) shared with the GI service which which is primarily used for administration of biologic and other anti-rheumatic treatments which need to be given by infusion and for intravenous bisphosphonate therapy. The department has 4 ultrasound scanners for point of care assessments. Ultrasounds skills are not necessary ( but encouraged) since the radiology department provides a service for ultrasound examination of joints and for ultrasound guided injections as well as advanced imaging with MRI and nuclear medicine.

Out-Patient Services The main outpatient facilities are at the Western General Hospital within the main OPD area where clinics are held on a daily basis. Outpatient clinics are also held at St John’s Hospital and Roodlands hospital.

The post does not have educational approval from the Postgraduate Dean and will not be recognised for training.

For an informal discussion or further information please contact:Dr Hema G Bhat, South-East Scotland Rheumatology Training Programme Directorhema.bhat@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

OR

Professor Stuart H Ralston, Clinical Director Rheumatology:stuart.ralston@ed.ac.uk / stuart.ralston@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

If viewing from an external site, please visit https://apply.jobs.scot.nhs.uk for a job pack detailing the minimum requirements for this post and details of how to apply.

We cannot accept CV’s as a form of application and only a completed online application form will be accepted. Personal information will not be sent with the application for short listing. The application form will be identified by the candidate number only to ensure that all applicants are treated equally.

Closing Date: 17/06/2026

***PLEASE NOTE: We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early***

**Please note we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage**

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