Salaried GP & Clinical Lead (UTC)

Job overview

Watford Urgent Treatment Centre offers a unique opportunity to join one of the NHS's most progressive and innovative Urgent and Emergency Care services. Unlike many Urgent Treatment Centres that operate through externally commissioned providers or as standalone services, our UTC is fully integrated within West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, enabling General Practitioners to work alongside Emergency Medicine Consultants, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Emergency Nurse Practitioners and a highly skilled multidisciplinary team. This integrated model provides seamless patient care, direct access to diagnostics and speciality services, and the opportunity to influence patient flow across the wider urgent and emergency care pathway.

Main duties of the job

Our Trust has gained national recognition for its transformation in Urgent and Emergency Care, including recognition at the HSJ Awards for its significant improvement journey. We continue to be regarded as a leading organisation in delivering innovation and sustainable improvement across Urgent and Emergency Care. As we further develop our UTC model, this is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking service where General Practitioners are central to clinical decision-making, service development and the redesign of front-door care. If you are passionate about delivering high-quality urgent care within a supportive, ambitious and collaborative team, Watford UTC offers an outstanding environment in which to develop your career while helping shape the future of integrated urgent care.

• Independently assess, diagnose and manage patients presenting with urgent illness and injury.
• Provide assessment and treatment for both adult and paediatric patients within the scope of the UTC.
• Request, interpret and act upon appropriate investigations.
• Prescribe medicines safely in accordance with national and local prescribing guidance.
• Refer patients appropriately to Emergency Department, Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), specialty teams, community services and General Practice.
• Support clinical streaming and navigation to ensure patients receive care in the most appropriate setting.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Working in close partnership with the UTC Matron and UTC Operational Lead (the UTC Triumvirate), the Clinical Lead will provide strategic and clinical leadership for the service.

Clinical Governance

• Lead the UTC clinical governance programme.
• Review clinical incidents, complaints, patient safety events and learning outcomes.
• Lead significant event analyses and mortality reviews where appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with NHS England UTC standards, Trust policies and CQC requirements.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, patient safety and clinical excellence.