Locum Specialty Doctor in Haematology

Job overview

LOCUM SPECIALTY DOCTOR IN HAEMATOLOGY

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic individual who is keen to learn Haematology and join our Haematology Team.

The appointee will cover B6A Haematology Ward at MMUH Metropolitan University Hospital as well as day unit and clinics at Sandwell Campus. Applications are welcomed from candidates with some broad general medical experince preferably holding MRCP or equivalent . It is desirable that the appointee will ideally have experience and interest in haematology although previous experience is not essential.

In addition the applicant is desired to have experience in performing bone marrow procedures, although training can be given.

This is a locum replacement job for fixed term of 12 months starting as soon as possible. There are opportunities for applying for a substantive specialty  doctor post likely to be advertised in near future.

Main duties of the job

This postholder is expected to help improve the management of inpatients and outpatients with haematological disorders- mainly haemato-oncology but also the opportunity to work with the sickle cell patients, general haematology, and thrombosis.

The job holder will be expected to cover B6a haemato-oncology ward on daily basis  assisting consultant ward round and supervise resident doctors. The postholder will also perform bone marrow procedures in the ward and day unit, perform lumbar punctures and attend one full day of clinics at Sandwell Hospital.

There is no on call commitment with this post but can be negotiated.

The appointee will have the opportunity to learn and and will be encouraged developing laboratory expertise, clinical trials and  research , teaching students , as well as CPD activities. There will be opportunities to attend courses, conferences and the regular regional SPR training. The consultants are all supportive and experienced and would encourage the appointee to help develop career progression as required. Previous specialty doctors in the unit have successfully managed to pass FRCPath exams and also obtained CCST.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The working week for a full-time specialty doctor is comprised of 10 programmed activities (PAs) each of which has a nominal timetable value of 4 hours. Programmed activities that take place outside the hours of 7am and 7pm Monday and Friday or at weekends or on public holidays will have a timetable value of three hours rather than four. A job plan and work schedule will set out agreed arrangements for how work is organized.

The post holder will not be directly involved in the care of haemoglobinopathy patients, however there is a joint on call over weekends for both services. There is a well-established Regional Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia centre (SCAT) within the Trust located at newly build MMUH hospital site and two of the current Consultants in post take the lead in this expanding area. SWBH NHS Trust has been procured jointly with Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Trust as the Haemoglobinopathy Coordinating Centre (HCC) for Sickle

Cell Disease in the West Midlands, and for Thalassaemia for both East and West Midlands. (NHS England Specialist Services Commissioning Haemoglobinopathies)

The newly purpose build Haemoglobinopathy centre (SCAT center) is based on Midland Metropolitan University Hospital providing specialist clinical and laboratory expertise and has a full team of consultants and specialist registrars and nurse specialists providing care for the local population as well as the region. The Haemoglobinopathy Clinical Nurse Specialists and the team of nurses, Clinical Psychologist and support staff at the SCAT centre offer a comprehensive service to patients with Haemoglobinopathy disorders. The SCAT centre has a day treatment centre with outpatient facilities at MMUH and also operates an outreach service to support patients with red cell diseases. There is a Haematology Matron / Lead nurse who is also the Lead Chemotherapy nurse for the trust.

The unit now also takes lead on Community Haemoglobinopathy service in collaboration with Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The SCAT team currently participates in major clinical trials in haemoglobinopathies including gene therapy and stem cell transplantation in collaboration with University Hospital Birmingham.The SCAT being a regional centre in Midlands, hence provides advice to all other centres in Midland including exchange transfusion.

To further develop our services, there is a proposal to develop a 24 hours open ‘’hyperacute haemaglobinopthay centre’’ in line with national commissioning, there is approval for recruiting another consultant to take a lead in its development.