Locum consultant in Cardiology

Job overview

This is a 12 month Fixed Term post in the first instance

An opportunity has arisen to join our team at Colchester General Hospital, in the Medicine and Community North East Essex CDG

We are inviting applications for a locum Consultant Cardiologist at Colchester Hospital. The post-holder will join a team of 7 other cardiologists (covering a range of subspecialties including intervention, imaging and complex devices). This service growth will meet the increasing outpatient demands of the fastest-growing city in England. It will also allow the move to eventually full 7/7 working for inpatient speciality ward support.

Applicants who are competent in dual chamber pacing are encouraged to apply, but all subspecialties will be considered. Based on the successful applicant’s abilities, a split-site job may be negotiated, involving either our sister site within ESNEFT, Ipswich Hospital, or the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) in Basildon. Applicants who are competent in complex device implantation will be able to undertake this at the CTC.

Main duties of the job

The post-holders will also undertake clinics and opportunities for cath-lab sessions and facilitation of other sub speciality interests can be discussed and facilitated where appropriate. Candidates are invited to contact Dr Rohin Francis, Clinical lead, to discuss this further. At present consultant job plans generally comprise 2 clinics per week when not on COW duties.

Qualifications required are MRCP or equivalent and full GMC registration. Inclusion on the Specialist Register of the GMC in Cardiology or within six months of CCST at interview date is required.

Clinical responsibilities

The key duties and responsibilities are:

• General responsibilities including participation in the consultant on-call rota
• Specialist clinics
• Outpatient clinics
• Operating as per specialty
• Teaching
• Other care of inpatients or outpatients
• Clinical and other administration as required by agreement
• Teaching and training of junior staff and undergraduates
• Participation in clinical governance

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post-holders will be expected to work with Consultant colleagues, the Clinical Lead, the Cardiology management team and the Divisional Director to ensure the service is delivered in line with best practice. He/she will be based at the Colchester Hospital and one or more satellite clinics. The post-holder will assist in the development of clinical services achieving locally and national agreed standards.

6 consultants contribute to the COW inpatient service initially for 6/7 day service on a 1-in-6 rota (Monday to Friday 9-5 and Sunday 9-3). This post will replace a member of this rotation, but our ultimate aspiration would be further recruitment and a move to 7 day cover. COW duties also include daily review of inpatient speciality referrals which come from a variety of sources such as the acute admissions ward, other medical teams, surgical teams and critical care. Referrals are managed by the COW with the support of middle grade staff (including 2 deanery speciality training posts, an IMT3 middle grade and currently one staff grade registrar). During a COW week the consultant is required to be present on site and available in the hospital between 9am to 5pm during weekdays and at present for a period of 6 hrs (2 premium time PAs) on a Sunday. Cardiology advice outside of these times is provided by the on call service at the regional Essex Cardiothoracic Centre via phone advice and transfer where necessary. Expansion of the consultant base provided by these posts will form the basis of future discussions for widening the weekend ward Cardiology service provided