Locum Consultant in Obstetrics

Job overview

Applications are invited for a Locum Consultant post in Obstetrics with special interest in High risk Obstetrics and Fetal medicine.  This is a fixed term locum post to meet department need with potential of extension as well as leading to a future substantive post.

With an increased requirement for consultant oversight for maternity risk assessment and acute care, the department has made significant improvements in its approach to high-risk Obstetrics and perinatal feto-maternal health. There is interest in further training as well as upskilling in subspecialist areas of obstetrics care.

Applicants are expected to have specialist training in fetal medicine and high risk Obstetrics either through ATSM/SITM route or equivalent such as PG certification. The candidates are expected to have experience in high-risk pregnancy care including specialist small baby clinic and enhanced antenatal care for women with previous pregnancy loss and still birth.

This job is most suitable for candidates with fetal medicine interest and it is a great opportunity to build on skills and experience. Applications are also welcome from candidates who have other skills/special interest in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, teaching and leadership which compliments the department’s need.

Main duties of the job

Main focus of this job is developing and maintaining fetal medicine, high risk obstetric services.

For those who wish to take up gynaecology component, appropriate clinics can be included within the job plan. Other specialist interest areas within Gynaecology may also be accommodated within the job plan (Ambulatory Gynaecology, abortion care, colposcopy, menopause care and urogynaecology).

Currently the department has 24 substantive consultants. Majority contribute to on call for both Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 4 consultants only contribute to obstetric on call and 2 for gynaecology.

The advertised post currently includes a non-resident on call element for Obstetrics.  There is a consultant on call for Obstetrics and another consultant on call for Gynaecology 24 hours a day 7 days a week. There will be an on-call commitment with this post which will include cover for Obstetrics and for acute Gynaecology (for those who take up gynaecology).

You will join the existing on call consultants on a 1:21 rota for labour ward cover. Currently we deliver 98 hours of resident on call for Obstetrics. The consultant presence on labour ward is delivered throughout the week, with a consultant resident on site between 08:00-22:00 each day. The on-call consultant provides the consultant labour ward cover from 1700-2200.  After 22:00, on call consultant cover is delivered on a non-resident basis. The  Gynaecology on call component of the post would be non-resident.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Women’s Services Clinical Service Unit currently offers a wide range of general and special interest in-patient and outpatient services. The Obstetric service includes 24 hrs maternity triage unit, labour ward and birth centre. A wide range of high-risk clinics for women with diabetes, haematological problems, perinatal mental health, small baby, multiple pregnancy, infectious diseases and epilepsy.

Specialist Gynaecological services include out-patient hysteroscopy, colposcopy, cystoscopy, early pregnancy assessment and termination service.  All services are delivered at main hospital except for an out-patient hysteroscopy clinic and bereavement follow-up  clinic at Westwood Park Community Hospital.

The successful candidate is expected to work in the high risk obstetrics clinics as well as the fetal medicine team. Key component of this role is to provide holistic care for parents and families with fetal abnormalities.

The post holder will be expected to work with wider MDT and to contribute to weekly fetal medicine MDT meeting and liaise with tertiary centre (Leeds Teaching Hospital) for ongoing care. The post holder is expected to contribute to departmental teaching and training, and the monthly fetal medicine governance meeting.

The department is keen to continue its journey in enhancing upskilling and improving subspecialist obstetrics services and will welcome experience and enthusiasm.

Applications will be welcomed from all suitably qualified Obstetricians & Gynaecologists.

Applicants must be fully registered with the General Medical Council.

The Trust is a teaching centre for the University of Leeds School of Medicine and the department has a good reputation for providing high quality undergraduate and postgraduate education and training. Successful applicants will be expected to contribute to these teaching programmes. There is also a strong emphasis on clinical research and a high calibre research group within the unit.